The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-04-05

~ in antiquity. The first trace
III dU> Y. Of 1t Is as a pagan rite.
AN w celebrated In honor Of
49, Eastre, the Saxon goddess
- Of spring. Then 1t became
identified with the Jewish passover,
and, about GO A. d., was Instituted as
q 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
q 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 s~hopkeepers 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-
ton. 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 a hush over all the place, and
then as the church bells toll out the
noon hour a 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 or
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 seer the legs of the score OF monks
who carry IL. Following is q long line
Of priests bearing crosses and many
candles.
This odd procession passes down
the sunlit street until at q given point
it Is met by a second figure. borne on
the shoulders OF four priests. This
represents q woman dressed in the
most gorgeous fnery. 1t is Mary Mag
dalene coming to meet her Lord after
his resurrection.
Like the Biblical Story.
There is a sudden halt OF both f1g.
ures, and then Mary turns and has.
tens away, the eight legs beneath
galloping furtously In order that 1t
may be seer how fast the repentant
one is hurrying to spread the news OF
the risen Christ. AS she goes she is
met by a 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.
vancing Saviour. When they do reach
him they bow repeatedly and then
the procession solemnly returns to the
church, passing through rows OF sol
diers who, as they enter Its doors
IRE a salute. and the music ends with
4 great flourish.
In IulS mOU0Iu 0Au pIO6 IcSSlVS
world this quaint custom seems most
primitive, but the glamor OF 1t all
brings such Joy to these people that
q so1ourner with them at this season
cannot but be impressed with their
simple faith.
The ceremony OF holy IRE within
che Church of the Holy S%epulcher.
Palestine, Is a very remarkable prac.
tice and one against which the pope
vigorously protests. but the Greek
church declares 1t 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 circllng three times
around the sepulcher. followed by the
bishops (all Of them clad In rich
robesl all praying f~ervently that the
ire may be sent down from heaven.
The Blessed Flame.
The Patriarch then enters the sep.
uicher alone and for . moment al
- dark, when suddenly through the
holes in the wall light appears and
the priests, standing In front Of them,
hand In candles. These they receive
again lighted and they are sent By
chosen messengers to Bethlehem, Mas
nroth and all over Palestine. Al they
pass through The congregation 70 ~