The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-02
MANY STRANGE oBsERvANoEs : AMONG GOOD FRIDAY CUSTOMS.

Good Friday, in commemoraaon Of the crucifixion of Jesus, will be ob- served today throughout the Christian world, with many strange and curious rites and ceremonies. If he follows the precedents of past years King AL fonso will today perform the cere- mony of the 'lavatorio,'' which con- ststs of the washing of the feet of several poor men by the monarch In former times the Spanish rulers real ly performed this act of humility, but now it has become mere pretense, as the pedal extremities of the poor who present themselves are careful ly cleansed before the ceremony, and King Alfonso is required only to make a show of wiping the feet of his i'm day observance in the Chapel Royal at Madrid is attended by all the mem bers of the royal family and the leading grandees and churchmen.
 In Mexico and Central America Good Friday is a sort of memorial day to Judas Iscariet. Figures of Judas are burned in eh1gy. Judas represented in all human and diabo1i- cal forms Is consumed by flames or exploded by gunpowder, and the great crowds assembled cheer wildly.
 In various parts fof England Good Friday is variously known as Black Friday, Suffering Friday, Marble Day and Long Rope Day, and these char acteFfzations are in vogue in parts of the United States and Canada Marble Day as a designation for Good Friday owes it's origin to the fact that for centuries English boys began playing marbles on that day.
 Hot cross buns are inseparab1y con nected with the observance of Good Friday. These buns date from the erasso of Pagan Rome The Romans di- vided the sacred cakes they offered to Diana, whose festival occurred in the early spring, with lines intersect- ing each other at right angles Hot cross buns were introduced into Eng l land by the Romans, but were later ] adopted as the special food of the Good Friday observance.
 Among the Indians of the south
 west Good Friday is observed as l FlageIlation Day, when the redskin
 religious enthusiasts undergo a scourging which is supposed to win 1 forgiveness for the sins of the past
 year. Many of the Indians and Mex- jeans insist that the flashing be con l tinued until they fall to the ground,
 bleeding and unconscious. Some of l the fanatics add red pepper to their wounds in order that the pain may be more intense and expiatton more
 sure.
 In Florence. Italy. the lights in all
 the churches are extinguished on Good Friday. as a symbol of the martyrdom Of J JeSuS- The religious i edifices remain dark until Haster,
 when they are. brilliantly lighted in
 commemoration of the resurrection.
 One of the strangest of all Good
 Friday observances is that of the na- l tives of the South Sea. island Hiva-
 ca, in the Marquesas group. For half 1 a century these former cannibals have l reproduced on each Good Friday the crucifixion of Jesus. The actors and
 actress in this passion play wear very little in the way of clothing, all Though a few years ago the 1rnper- senator of Pt1ate created a sensation | by appearing in a breech c1out and a. silk hat. Few white men other than l the Catholic missionaries have ever | witnessed this novel drama.
 l Tn southern Italy the Good Friday procession of the penitents is a fea- ture of the day. The marches are almost enveIoped in long white robes. and each wears on his head 8 crown 1 of thorns.