The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-09-05

sleeps wool. Luxuries are imported,
chiefly from the Portuguese mainland;
but, should every ship sailing these
seas fail to call at the "Western
islands," the Azorians could survive.
POnta Delgada's religious festival In
honor of Santo Cristo dos Milagres
(Our Lord of the Miracles), is one
Of the Azores most striking feasts to
tourists. The devout worship an image
called locally "Sant' Crist'." This
image, revered for nearly 400 years,
is remarkable for the number Of pre-
cious, stones with which it is adorned.
When native of Sac Miguel prospers
In the New world, portion Of his
first savings is usually sent to his
beloved SAINT Crist'.
The festival begins on a Thursday
with the arrival in town of farmers
bringing so head of cattle to be slaugh-
tered as meat for the poor. Banners
wave; rockets shoot skyward in broad
daylight; band plays.
Worship With Skyrockets.
On the following day the meat, with
bread, is blessed and distributed On
Saturday the sacred image Is conveyed
with ceremony from its home in an old
convent to the Church of Esperanca
(hope), next door. That night thou
sands kneel before it. Not only from
the rural district of Sac Miguel, but
from the neighbOring island of Santa
Maria, worshipers flock to the capital
The facade Of the church CLOVIS with
electric lights, adjacent buildings on
the public square are Illuminated, and
line of flaming arches stretches
across the streets. There is band
concert, with fireworks and skyrockets,
the latter being closely associated
with religious ceremonies in all Portu-
guese lands.
On Sunday afternoon comes the pro-
cession, when the image, accompanied
by the clergy and hundreds Of laymen,
is conveyed through the city and back
to the convent. Men and women of
distinction, Of the middle class, of the
peasantry, all participate. Embroid-
cred hangings drape the balconies.
The streets are strewn with Incense
| (Pittosporum) leaves, aromatic fennel,
and fresh blossoms. All kneel as the
image, under it's canopy of native
made feather flowers, is born past.
One is disappointed that SO few old
native costumes are to be seen on the
streets during these festival days, but
glad that one, at least, still survives.
1t is the capote capello, distinctly
Azorian, the wOman's long, dark-blue
cloth cape, circular in shape, with a
large hood of the same material, re-
sembling coal scuttle. 1t is anus
ing to see two capotes stopping for a
friendly gossip. The scuttlers meet
and only gesticulating hands are
visible.
The shrouding of the woman's head
and shoulders is a relic of centuries of
Moorish rule on the Iberian peninsula.
This particular garment may be of
Flemish origin, brought by early col
onists from Flanders. Some Azorians
believe it owes its being to the period
| when these islands were ruled by
| Spain.
The hood is not always the same,
| being larger on the islands of Santa
Maria and Sac Jorge, more stiffened
with buckram and whalebones in
Fayal The young moderns scorn it /;
but, conservative, convenient, protec-
tive, and long-lived, it is still worn by
some of the older women, especially
for early mass. If the wearer happens
| to see somebody on the street whom
she wishes to avoid, presto! the hood
| is pulled farther forward and she is
within her own fortress.