The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-29
EASTER IN NEW MEXICO
Spanish Speaking Population CIings
to Old Ceremonies.

1t is not necessary to go to foreign
lands if one wishes to see picturesque
Easter ceremonies. In New Mexico
the Spani sh speaking population,
which is greatly in the majority, cele-
brates Easter with fervor and pic
turesqueness which show what a
strong hold upon the imagination the
early Spanish priests and their latter
day successors have exercised in the
Southwest.
Probably there is no place in the
world where Easter means more than
it does to the devout descendants, of
the Spaniards and Mexicans of New
Mexico. The liturgical color of white
is everywhere in evidence. White
dresses flash in the bright New MeXi-
CO sunshine, signifying purity and
light. The Paschal candles, some of
them of huge dimensions, are burning
in their gorgeous candlesticks before
the high affairs in the churches and
air as Easter approaches, and every
body is stirring about.
Up in the wooded hills in the vicin-
ity of the historic old settlement of
Taos, and among the pueblos that are
scattered along the Rio Grande Valley
to the Colorado line, strange rites and
ceremonies are being practiced. There
are many spring customs among the
pueblo jewellers which antedate the
Easter teachings of the early Catholic
missionaries. Students of Pueblo In
dian history declare that these In
dams have spring celebrations which
are closely akin to the ancient pagan
rites practiced by the Greeks in the
worship of their vernal god, Dionysius.
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 a
picturesque gathering of blanketed
Indians, with whom mingle swaFthy-
skinned descendants of Mexicans.
Aside from the Latin used by the
priests in the ceremonies, one hears
only the soft Spanish tongue spoken.
The Easter parade at the conclusion
of the services is strange and colorful,
and when one sees long procession
of Indians, in bright blankets, he is
inclined to pinch himself and wonder
If he really is in the United States.
At some of the pueblos there is a
dash of the pagan. 1t is the Indians
natural desire to dance at any cere-
mony, religious or otherwise, and the
wise priests who have charge of the
Pueblos allow their spiritual charges
all the leeway consonant with the OBJ.
servance of their religion. Thus one
sees a dance which is barbaric in
tone, like the feast of San Geronimo
in the fall, which is Catholic in foun.
dalton, but purely Indian in express
sion.
While the Pueblos are having their
myterious rites in remote canyons
and caverns there is an echo from
old Spain in the ceremonies of the
Penitentes, which are practised mostly
in secret by that strange sect which
dourishes in Northern New Mexico
and Southern Colorado. The rites
of the Penitentes have been described
many times. The Penitentes Broth
erhood is still strong, though efforts
are being made by the Church to
stamp out the flagellation and crucifx.
ion. The term of penance is thirty.
three and one-half days and the flag.
eIlants lash their bare 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 crucifxion in
the lonely hills surrounding Taos,
where the brotherhood seems to be
strongest.