The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-06


sSIz Eastre, the Saxon goddess
of spring. Then it became
identified with the Jewish passover,
and, about 6S 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
prominent part in the proceedings
of Easter, and Holy Saturday is a day
which is devoted almost entirely to
maltreating his efhgy
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 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 II 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 nandemouium
reigns supreme.
In Cuba and other Spanish-Ar1eri-
can countries there is 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 Tesur-
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 a long line
of priests bearing crosses and many
candles.
This odd procession passes down
the sunlit street until at a given point
it Is met by second figure, borne on
| the shoulders of four priests. This
represents woman dressed in the
most gorgeous fnery. Il 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 1t
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 yell
| 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 tho
| church, passing through rows Of SOL
diers who, as they enter its doors,
| fire salute, and the music ends with
a great flourish.
In this modern and progressive
world this quaint custom seems most
| primitive, but the glamor Of it all
brings such joy to these people that
| sojourner with them at this season
| cannot but be impressed with their
simple faith.
The ceremony of holy fire within
the Church of the Holy Sepulcher,
| Palestine, is 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 circIlng three times
around the sepulcher, followed by the
bishops (all of them clad in rich
robes) 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 a moment all
! Is 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, Naz-
areth and all over Palestine. As they
church door there Is a mad rush to-
ward them, each member OF the vast
assemblage striving to light his can
die with the blessed flame.
| There Is legend of a crusader from
| Florence, who, finding himself one
Easter at Jerusalem, joined the throng
who lighted their tapers at the sa.
cred flame within the Holy SepuIcher
church. Anxious to bring this back
to his native town unextinguished to
protect it from the wind he rode the
/ whole OF the land journey on a don
key, with his face to its tail
The devil tried, but unsuccessfully
| to blow it out, and on his arrival
| home thu tape~ was still alight