Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-12-25

of the world The holiday season be-
gins nine days before Christmas and
winds up with Twelfth night"
All solemn feasts in the Roman
Catholic church are preceded by
"novenas" or special church services.
The Christmas celebration Is semi
religious, beginning on the sixteenth
of December, or nine nights before
Christmas, and Is repeated every
night until Christmas eve. This is
called LAS posadas" and commend
rates the eight successive, but unsuc-
cessful days of search for an INN"
or place of rest in Bethlehem, by the
Holy Family when they had gone up
to Nazareth to pay their taxes in the
city where they belonged as lineal
descendants of David.
Day after day Saint Joseph and the
Holy Mother asked in vain for admit
tance to some "meson" or place Of
retirement, only to be refused admis-
sion everywhere.
In vain did she plead her great
necessity, the inns were already
crowded and there was no room for
the pilgrims, SO they were repeatedly
turned away.
On the night of the sixteenth Of
December bands of from five to one
hundred gather together at some one s
house and start on the rounds of visit
ing the houses of their friends These
bands are supposed to represent the
three wise men seeking the infant
saviour and the Holy Family seeking
shelter. The origin of this quaint GUS
tom has been lost since the Spanish
conquest 1t is called 'pidiendo posa-
das"-asking shelter-and at every
house they are all invited in, offered
wine and food and after some argu-
ment they are Offered the house"
They finally depart and 60 on to the
next house only to repeat the pre-
vious performance.
During the visit one-half Of the
company 60 outside the house and
form In solemn procession, the
other half remaining inside and each
carries lighted candle. The leaders
bear a small lighted shrine in which
are the images of the Santos
peregrinos"- holy pilgrims, Joseph
and Mary. They slowly march back
and forth in front Of the house or
around the patio chanting the
litany to Saint Mary in high minor
key; then they stop at the door and
knocking ask for admittance. There
are about twelve verses for this which
are chanted first by those outside
asking admittance, then answered by
those on the inside refusing to open
the door, and the denial Of the per.
sonality of the Holy Family.
After the pleading petition and curt
refusal those within are finally con-
vinced that they who ask for their
hospitality are really the Holy Pill
grims, when they open wide the doors
and bid them enter: ENTER, holy pill
grims, honor my poor mansion etc.
The pilgrims" then enter, the
images are placed in small grotto
which has been especially prepared
for the purpose; lighted candle or
bright-light is held above by some one
in manner to represent the star of
Bethlehem; some person present,
either priest or layman. leads in the
Ave Marias, short prayers are said,
more hymns sung and the religious
features for that night are at an end,
and at once the festivities of the
night begin which usually last until
nearly morning.
On Christmas eve the same pro-
gram is followed except that an image
of the Hold Child, lying naked in a
small manger filed with straw, is
carried between the godfather and
godmother, who have been appointed
by the hostess to this great honor, and
singing the litany and other hymns
they proceed as on previous evenings
until at 1880 they begin singing the
song of the "noche-buena" or Christ
mas night Then follow Ave Marias,
glorias, litany to the "Nino Dios" or
God-child, when the image is placed in
the grotto prepared for the reception.
where it remains till the end of the
holiday season.
Groups of friends and relatives COM
bine for these posadas. different