Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-12-11

geration to say that no such gorgeous
spectacular displays of color are any
where else to be seen, and the tourist
who visits New Mexico in time to be
present at the festival of San Juan on
June "a, and remains till that at Taos
on September 80, meanwhile visiting
those at Cochiti on July IA, Santo
Domingo, August 4, Santa Clara,
August ~, and Acoma, September 2,
will have seen more strange cere-
nonials, dramatic representations,
beautiful and weird dances and
spectacular effects than IN a lifetime
of travel in foreign lands. 1t is a con-
slant source of wonder that Ameri-
cans will cross the ocean to distant
chimes in search of the interesting,
the novel and the beautiful, and neg
lect these marvellous exhibitions in
their own land.
Open Hospitality.
All the preparations for the cere-
monial dances occupy several weeks
III advance of the occasion; the young
er participants are carefully instruct
ed and the garments and ornaments.
all of which are precisely described as
to material, color, form, etc, are duly
prepared On the preceding day a
temporary structure or booth is erect
ed on one side of the principal plaza.
the sides being covered with ever
greens and the inside being hung with
gorgeous Navajo blankets. The front
is open and at the back is placed
table covered with blankets as tenn
porary altar. At sunrise of the fest1-
val day an official, who is called a
herald, makes proclamation from the
housetops in various parts Of the
town that the day is to be properly
celebrated, and calls on all to parti-
cipate. At 8 o'clock mass is said in
the church, and at its conclusion the
people form a procession and carry
the image of the patron saint from
the church to the temporary altar in
the booth, where it remains all day.
Soon after the principal dance of the
day begins and lasts for several hours.
Each pueblo of any size contains two
Estufas or underground circular coun-
Gil chambers, and the people are divid-
ed into two parties or clans called
Chalchuite and Calabasa, one of which
belongs to each Estufa The dancers
redezvous in the Estufas, and dance
alternately through the day, one set
relieving the other at stated inter
walls. so that the dance itself is con-
tinuous. The numbers vary accord
ing to the size of the pueblo.
Long before the dances begin the
pueblo is filled with visitors and every
house is thrown open to entertain the
guests. 1t is the time for the renewal
of old acquaintances, but the stranger
Is as welcome as the oldest friend,
and the spirit of hospitality rules the
hour. In every house great ALA full
of stewed meat and vegetables is Of
fered to the guest The scene on the
plaza is one of peculiar brilliancy.
The ceremonial dresses of the dan
GERS are bright with color and, In
most cases, of much richness and
beauty. The visiting Indians carry the
gaudiest and richest of Navajo blan-
kets, the bright scarlet in which adds
much to the picturesque nature of the
scene. All around the plaza the fiat
housetops are covered with people,
and the brilliant colored silks and
satins of the young Mexican women
on these gala occasions form a riot
of color. During the whole day men,
women and children come to the booth
and kneel before the image Of the
saint on the altar, bringing with them
offerings OF various kinds of food. Al
the summer festivals melons and vege-
tables predominant, but at all times
there are a multitude of loaves OF
bread of a peculiar shape only seen
on these occasions. While nominally
offered to the saint, they are usually
taken by the priest and form part OF
the provision for his maintenance,