The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-08
PAGAN CEREMONIALS
ARE HELD IN ITALY;
RECALL OLD WORSHIP
BY ALICE ROBE
written for The United Press)


GUBB1O. Italy. July S.-Scenes rem
iniscent of the days of tree worship
hack in the very dawn of history have
just been witnessed in this ancient
Italian town.
Pagan ceremonials, connected with
the Vigil of St Ubaldo. which have
been condemned by two popes and
banned by Napoleon. were carried out
with Bacchanalian fervor
'The Elevation and Procession Of
the Candles" is the English name Of
the festival which set Cubic, one of
the five oldest towns in Italy, Attire
with fervor
At noon at the convent of Santa
Lucia there is feast going on which
is attended by the Ceraioli, or candle
bearers. All Cubic is awaiting the
proceedings here. for as soon as the
white bloused, red-capped CeraiQli fin
ish eating they rush out into the court
yard where three huge wooden obe-
lisk-like affairs are lying. These are
the so-called Cert, though many think
the name comes from the Goddess of
Fertility instead of from wax candles.
Beside them are huge wooden shafts
or frames. The outrush of Ceraioli
reveals them in three distinct groups,
one bearing an image of st. Ubaldo,
the patron saint of Cubic, and repre-
senting the stone masons; another the
image of st. George, representing the
merchants, and third, st. Anthony,
carrying in his hand a ball of fire,
representing the peasants.
Great Competition
The elevation Of the Cert, which are
IL feet in height, the placing of the
images on the pinnacles, is the great
competition. The winner is, of course,
Ahailed with shouts of joy. AS soon as
1.-THE Cert are raised, a jug of water is
poured over each-the ancient lustra-
ton rite described in the Eugubine
tablets being seen in this act When
the libatfon has been poured out, the
jug is thrown to the ground and
broken.
Then through the narrow streets OF
Cubic, each taking a different route,
a mad rush begins. Already the &C.
raioli have been given plenty of wine
but now, looking down a medieval
street, before a picturesque stone
house, you may see the fluttering
robes of st. Ubaldo swirling before an
ancient house Three times round
goes the gyration, which means that
here is an offering of wine to the
Ceraioli
For several hours the Cert are
placed at the head of the Via Dante
and the Ceraioli spend the hours in
song and recreation. Then at vespers
an interesting ceremonial takes place
The big bell in the Palace of the
Councillors announces that the arch
bishop in procession, with banner
of st. Ubaldo, is leaving the cathedral
to give his benediction to the Cert.
Wine Offered
When the religious procession
reaches the Via Dante, the Cert have
been once more placed upon the shout
ders of the Ceraioli. AS soon as the
benediction is given, the Ceraioli, pre-
ceded and surrounded by a huge
crowd rush from the Via Xante into
the Corso.
At the end of the street stop Il
made and wine is offered. Then the
rush is made toward the Piazzs
Grande, where three turns are made
before the mayor seated in a window
of the Municipio. Once more the Ger
are taken on a wild run. this time to
ward the commanding Mt. Iguvio
Reaching the monastery at the sum
init, the images are taken from th'
Ceri and the huge obelisks placed II
their resting place till next year.
In the dusk the Ceraioli descend the
mountain to a town illuminated witt
myriad lights They return singin;
. songs of st. Ubaldo and carrying the
images of the three saints back to the
church of the stone masons The fes
tai is over until next year.