The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-04-04


.E&A in antiquity. The first trace
K1ME. of 1t Is as a pagan rite,
WMX celebrated in honor OF
aSA%Sz Eastre, the Saxon goddess
of spring. Then it became
identified with the Jewish passover,
and, about 68 A. D., was instituted as
a Christian festival.
There are many quaint customs In
celebration of Easter in countries
where superstition still holds sway
over the minds of the people. In
Spain, Portugal and most OF South
America, Judas, the betrayer, plays
a prominent part in the proceedings
of Easter, and Holy Saturday is a day
which is devoted almost entirely to
maltreating his effigy
Execution Of Judas.
On Good Friday the shopkeepers are
busy all day selling Judases, of every
size and shape, by the dozens, to men,
women and children; and on the fol-
lowing morning the whole community
is transposed into a place OF execu-
tion. Ropes are stretched across the
streets from house to house, and on
them are strung Judases filled with
straw and gunpowder, black and very
ugly as they sway in the sunlight.
A few minutes before IL O'Clock
there is hush over all the place, and
then as the church bells toll out the
noon hour sudden frenzy seizes the
people and every Judas is cut down
and hurled into flames amid wild
shouts of rejoicing. and pandemonium
reigns supreme.
In Cuba and other Spanish-Ameri-
can countries there is a curious Gus
tom which almost outrivals those OF
other places. At an appointed hour
on Easter morning the cathedral
doors are thrown open for the resur-
rected Saviour to pass out. This is a
waxen figure of Christ with open
wounds exposed) seated upon a
draped platform, beneath which may
be seen the legs Of the score of monks
who carry it. Following is long line
of priests bearing crosses and many
candles.
This odd procession passes down
The sunlit street until at given point
it is met by a second figure, borne on
the shoulders of four priests. This
represents a woman dressed in the
most gorgeous tinery. 1t is Mary Mag
dalene coming to meet her Lord after
his resurrection.
Like the Biblical Story.
There is a sudden halt OF both fig
ures, and then Mary turns and has
tens away the eight legs beneath
galloping furiously in order that it
may be seen how fast the repentant
one is hurrying to spread the news OF
the risen Christ. AS she goes she is
met by third figure, decked in vel
low satin and crowned with gold, and
this is the Virgin Mary. The two
pause, and then turn to meet the ad-
yancing Saviour. When they do reach
him they bow repeatedly and then
the procession soIemnly returns to the
church. passing through rows OF SOL
diers who, as they enter its doors,
fire a salute, and the music ends with
a great flourish.
The ceremony of holy IRE within
the Church OF the Holy Sepulcher,
Palestine, is a very remarkable prac-
tice and one against which the pope
vigorously protests, but the Greek
church declares it is an annually re-
curing miracle. On Holy Saturday
with the church crowded almost to
suffocation, all lights are extinguished,
and one of the Greek patriarchs opens
the service by circiing three times
around the sepulcher, followed by the
bishops (all of them clad in rich
robesl all praying fervently that the
fire may be sent down from heaven.
The Blessed Flame.
The Patriarch then enters the sep
ulcher alone and for moment all
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