Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-04-05

N Of it is as a pagan rite,
&NNLK celebrated in honor of
sSS|az Eastre, the Saxon goddess
of spring. Then it became
identified with the Jewish passover,
and, about IS 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
a prominent part in the proceedings
of Easter, and Holy Saturday is day
which is devoted almost entirely to
malreating his ettigy
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-
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 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 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 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 finery. 1t is Mary Mag
dalene coming to meet her Lord after
his resurrection.
Like the Biblical Story.
There is sudden halt of both fig
ures, and then Mary turns and has
tens away, the eight legs beneath
galloping furiously il order that II
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, ano
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 ther
the procession solemnly returns to the
church, passing through rows Of sol
diers who, as they enter its doors
fire a salute, and the music ends witt
a great flourish.
In this modern and progressive
world this quaint custom seems most
primitive, but the glamor of 1t al
brings such Joy to these people thai
sojourner with them at this season
cannot but be impressed with theil
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 Greel
church declares it is an annually re
curing miracle. On Holy Saturday
with the church crowded almost tc
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 rict
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 moment al
ls 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 b.
CHOSEN messengers to Bethlehem, MAJ
sreth and all over Palestine. AS they
pass through the congregation to tn