The Catholic bulletin., 1914-05-02
EASTER IN NEW MEXICO
THE SPGNTSH-SPEAKrN POPULA-
TIoN CLING TO TTME-HoN-
oRED CEREMONIES.

IL is not necessary 10 go TO foreign
lands If one wishes to see picturesque
Easter ceremonies. In New Mexico
the Spanish-speaking population, which
is greatly in the majority, celebrates
Easter with fervor and picturesque
ness 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 Mex
leo sunshine, signifying purity and
light. The paschal candles, some of
them of huge dimensions, are burn
ing in their gorgeous candIesticks be-
fore the high affairs in the churches
and missions. There is excitement
in the air as Easter approaches, and
everybody 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 prac-
ticed. There are many spring GUS
toms among the pueblo dwellers
which antedate the Easter teachings
of the early Catholic missionaries.
Students of Pueblo Indian history
declare that these Indians have
spring celebrations which are closely
akin to the ancient pagan rites prac-
ticed by the Greeks in the worship
of their vernal god, Dyonisius.
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 swarthy-
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 color
full, and when one sees long pro-
cession 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 pueb1os there is a
dash of the pagan. It 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
observance 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-
dation, but purely Indian in express
sion.
While the Pueblos are having their
mysterious 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
fiourishes in Northern New Mexico
and Southern Colorado. The rites of
the Penitentes have been described
many times. The Penitentes Brother
hood is still strong, though efforts are
being made by the Church to stamp
out the f1agellation and crucifixion.
The term Of penance is thirty-three
and one-half days and the fiagellants
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 brother
hood seems to be strongest.