New-York tribune., 1912-04-07
EASTER IN NEW MEXICO.
suanish Speaking Population
CIings to Old Ceremonies.
Corpus CHRISTI PROCESSION
Ancient Pagan Springtime Rites
practised at This Season by
the Indians.

10 wishes to see picturesque Easter
.,ories In New Mexico the Spanish
.l,nc population. which is greatly in
maturity, celebrates Easter with
w. and plcturesqueness which show
- strong hold upon the imagination
we oor,v Spanish priests and their latter
Ssy successors have exercised in the South
west -,
probablv there is no place in the world
mere Easter means more than 1t does 10
:, devout descendants OF the Spaniards
ra Nexicans Of New Mexico. The litur-
e., color of white is everywhere In evil
White dresses fash I'm the bright
- Mexico sunshine signifying purity
"a ugbt The Paschal candles some OF
's.r, of huge dimensions are burning IN
49, gorgeous candlesticks before the high
.'.ars IN the churches and missions. There
= excitement in the air as Easter ap-
~.oocbes. and everybody is stirring about,
P ., % those confirmed SONS of rest who
- generally sQuatted against the sunny
"a. NJ an adobe wall, putting cigarettes
- letting the hours slip idly by.
~, ,r the wooded hills I'm tie vicinity Of
bIstoric old settlement of Taos, and
ING the pueblos that are scattered along
49, pJo Grande Valley to the Colorado line.
'..ongs rites and ceremonies are being
.-octJsed There are many spring customs
among the pueblo dwellers which antedate
tbo Easter teachings Of the early Catholic
rLests Students of Pueblo Indian history
SecIare that these Indians have spring ceie-
b,at,ons which are closely akin to the an
cient pagan rites practised by the Greeks
On the worship Of their vernal god, Do
nysius.
Inst what these mysterious ceremonies
n tfe Indians are has never been definitely
,o1nd out. even by the white men mos,
closely associated with the Pueblos. The
ceremonies are practised I'm secret caVerns,
which are closely guarded, or in remote
CANYONS II would be death 10 attempt 10
penetrate one of these canyons while these
MYSTERIOUS ceremonies of springtime are
going on. but enough has been gathered
10 make it certain that the rites parallel
very closely those Of the ancient Greeks
At the very beginning OF what IS now the
modern drama.
At the Pueblo missions orthodox Easter
ceremonies are observed by the Indians.
The Easter services at the churches and
missions, some of which structures are
hundreds Of years old, are well attended
BY picturesque gathering of blanketed
Indians with whom mingle swarthy-
: skinned descendants of Mexicans. Aside
from the Latin used by the priests in the
ceremony, one hears only the soft Spanish
tongue spoken. The Easter parade at the
conclusion Of the services is strange and
coorful, and when one sees long pro-
cession of Indians in bright blankets, he
is inclined 10 pinch himself and wonder II
he really is in the United States.
At some Of the pueblos there is a dash Of
the pagan 1t is the Indians natural de-
sire TO dance at any ceremony, religious
or otherwise, and the wise priests who
have such a strong hold on the imagina-
tons Of the Pueblos allow their spiritual
charges all the leeway possible. Thus one
sees dance which is barbaric in tone, like
the feast of San Geronimo in the fall,
which is Catholic in foundation, but pure
y Indian in expression.
While the Pueblos are having their
mysterious rites in remote canyons and
eaverns there is an echo from old Spain
in the ceremonies Of the Penitentes, which
are practised mostly in secret by that
strange sect which fiourishes in Northern
New Mexico and Southern Colorado, The
rites of the Penitentes have been de-
scribed many times The Penitential Broth
erhood is still strong, though efforts are
being made by the Church to stamp out
the Aagellation and crucifxion. The term
Of penance Is thirty-three and one-half
dox.c 90 cN hair hor
backs with cactus whips. Others drag
heavy crosses on Easter, which is the final
day OF the penance, and there are grim
stories Of actual crucihxion in the lonely
hills surrounding Taos, where the brother
hood seems TO be strongest.
Students Of history have been unable to
account for this sporadic growth and sur
Nvsl of the Penitential Brotherhood in the
United States The Flagellants. as they
were called, were strong in Europe in the
early days Of Catholicism, extending their
influence through Spain and Italy into Ger
many and Bohemia. That there should
nave been an outcropping Of Flagellants
IN the United States is regarded as one Of
the most absorbing Of religious mysteries.
The Penitentes Of the Southwest are re-
eruited from the Spanish speaking popu-
auon, remote from the principal cities and
towns OF New Mexico. The brotherhood
mas fourished i'm lonely land that rs sell
dom penetrated by strangers, which ac-
counts for the stubborn manner I'm which
the order has held out against the pro-
sressive elements Of Catholicism, which
nave sought 10 destroy IT,
The survival OF the Corpus Christi pro-
cesson in Santa Fe itself is most interest
ING. This procession, which is supposed
10 represent the carrying of the actual
BODY OF the Host, or Christ, was originally
the greatest and most picturesque Of East
er ceremonals in the Catholic Church. 1t
was held on the first Thursday after Trim
lty sunday and was gorgeous pageant.
In which the guilds partook When relic-
ious opinion became divided. however. the
Corpus Christi procession, which was re-
ssrded as symbolical Of sacredotal power.
was gradually abandoned on account of
the controversy and actual combat il pro-
'oked. in most places it is forbidden, even
Where Catholicism is the dominant re-
ligion.
IN New Mexico, however. the procession
o. she Corpus Christi is held every year.
Inc pafades are made very impressive. all
the tnarchers being clad In white. and a iav
eue' representing the Host, being borne
'a'cush the streets to the accompaniment
OF solemn dirges