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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1906)
Hi"? yt1' v ' . IJv - v I JTvery freftjr Tiecrssnt ? G'e gp zrasAe? SCrsS-rfrr 7&r3S7H Scorning tnT&i Txsftrr nyenfcz, isJLtJte the Jpthntti cf fu-ty tn America ,," . ' trTn .1. . r . . . MUIS Cr the queer Easter CUStOmS Ot " r eWiMu tat, At lt,r0Tt',m many tanas, none tS more interesting .... en . v . , man those ot eastern Lurope. !. Estedallt notable are the in lands ' mpwf wwvic urc incj in lanaj where the Greek and Armenian . Churches hold religious sway, for those churches make Lent a period of severe physical suppression, and their sacerdotal teachings are firmly im pressed upon the minds of the masses. Not only is the Easter time a glad com memoration of the resurrection, but it is made one of the most joyous holiday seasons of the 'year, -y; ' - .. ' i . " ."' 7 Its advent is welcomed by Christians in . Moslem Constantinople with the discharge of firearms. With the kiss of peace She Russian treets evert one he meets. Roumanians ex change .visits and giftS Of hard-boiled eggS, ": Dies and delicacies. - m ,. i- a THAT their mental appreciation of the Saviour! suf ferings and their Joy in His resurrection may be real end pure, Roumanian church rituals Impose upon the tiopl long end very, waver period of stint and nrarta. II'. ' h f (Wk it ' iiT nmm iIsM ii B L .-'x:i:rJ 5 V9 ... : A Jl THE OREGON SUNPAY' JOURNAL, PORTLANIX SUNDAY ' . A 1' 1 ' m j (I Jl Dnrliir the Mven weeks trecdtn Eaater th plon RaunuuiUa denies himself mee.t entireiy: b will not touch rfgu nd milk, or use the dishes that have con tained them. His food durlnf Lent Is Ash and vegetable. Purine Holy Week he abstains from the fish also. Every night of Lent finds the people fathered In their churches. These edifices are not heated; there are no pew, and the service lusts several hours, during which time the worshipers kneel or sit on the oold. damp stone floors. In Holy Week the services are increased In length to Ave or six hours. Many of the older persons, weakened by-their severe fasts, are uffable to withstand the strain and take .to their beds, i Easter-Hundny brings a remarkable change. After. the early church service, when the priest announces that meals. Many poor famillee pinch and save for weeks.tV provide sultsble feasts for this happy occasion. Their long hunger appeased, neighbors call oa each other with baskets ttUed with eggs, cheese, cakes, pies and other delicacies, and exchange joyous greetings.- 'Ottawa I at 4n ' th iiMnU himtaii hnmA li i KMrtl- men wng ana uia nssmn. tq tne mnrKet piace or other pleasure grouna lor a extenaoa rounoor Kverywhere the air Is filled with music produced by military bands, wandering minstrels, troupes of gypsies, street organs and - soloists. Swing?, merry-go-rounds, bowling alleys and other amusements are at every hand, and all are busy. Far into the night the festival . pleasures run, with eating, drinking, dancing and muslo. Generally, the holi day lasts three days; In some places It Is continued for a week. Every one dresses In his or her best, and ths houses are decorated with flowers and willow branches. ' Dancing Is a favorite Easter diversion with the work ing people of Armenia. The drinking shops are filled with men who sing and dance for hours with nn, and danoe for hour, without hp" of tiring. - - Mttst or me Armenian merrymaking takes Diace in tne meteries on the outskirts of ths cities and towns. These burial plaoee are usually surrounded by high walls, which - screen-th -festive- paxtltja from the view o )he Jntolerant Turk. - . . ... The wide, flat tombstones are made to serve both as - seats and tables. There the festival banquets are spread, and there the older people sit and play cards or watch tne younger onee asnce. - Borne years ago ths Turkish government endeavored to atop the noisy,-Fourth of July manner In which the , Christians of Constantinople were wont to weloome Raster. It proclaimed that the custom of flrtng guns, pistols and squibs must cease.' , - , . .. , DEFIED THE SULTAN With more than ordinary Interest the coming of the next Easter was awaited. Could an edict of the Sultan cause a quiet Easter In Constantinople T It did not; there was, If anything, more noise than aver. -t Small boys of families belonging to the Greek Chnrch delight In a custom that supplies thera with wheel rattles at Kaster. With these they rain a terrinc clatter, calling . It "breaking Judas' bones." "They always break Judas' bones after Chrlat Is risen," explained a . native to an Inquiring American tourist. . . Exchanges ot painted red eggs are invariably a feat ure of the season la eastern Europe. Families on rounds' of visits to neighbors take baskets of such eggs with them. Children carry them through the streets, stopping ' to "pick" eggs with other children. . It Is customary to make presents of huge Easter buns, ten inches or more in length, each with a gilded egg baked on It. beggars robs -thenrselves in grotesque attire and ner- . form s queer sort of dance in the streets. If passers by appear to Ignore them, they will ball them with the' cry. -it is Perhaps In no country Is Easter celebrated with greater fervor or more universal spirit than In Russia. it is approacnett wun nunuu illlty and deep religious de- votion. On the preceding Sunday all the pomp of church ser- vice is laid aside. During . Holy week the people fast rig- . orously. many persons eating nothing at ail for three -days. The churches are darkened and the priests with draw from public view. Reading of the - gospel never eeases, those of the people who are able to tead aloud taking turns at this duty. It Is In the Kremlin at Itoscow that the Russian Eas ter services and celebration may be witnessed to beet advantage. There, on Holy Thursday, the Metropolitan washes the feet ot twelve men as an instruction in hu mility and service. At midnight Saturday the) exquisite chime of bells In the great tower of Ivan Veliki rings out In a glorious perfection of melody; and over the city bells take up the Joyous chorus and, from sombre- darkness, all Moscow springs into a blase of lights. .. A GORGEOUS PROCESSION The Greek Church Metropolitan and the clergy, In robes biasing with gold and precious stones, make three circuit about the exterior of the Church of the Reet of the Virgin, am) then enter the stately edifice amid . thunderous chants to begin the first service pf Easter Day. . After swinging the censer among the clergy and the people, the Metropolitan extends his cross to be kissed by the faithful as they crowd to the altar. Later In the ser- -hV..MH all th people exchansre the klu of nam and uni.n love. . Next, upon Ms hands and knees, the Metropolitan crawls around the church, pausing to kiss each icon, or sacred picture, on the walla, aa well aa th tombs and altars. i Duiinglhornlnff no c arson meets anothnr tnr tha Hi si itnlna- ta aa-tihi " - kiss of peace and the greeting, "Christ l risen." with the response, "He Is risen, Indeed." t,v Yen the Emperor is sunnosed to follow thla and kiss upon the cheek ail whom he meets, although um. uuw iir nicnoiH louowe tne custom is known only in the royal hoiwhold st Tsarskos Selo. Former Csars havs been known to kiss the humblest subjects when meeting them upon the streets on Easter morning.' During the early services In the churches a curious scene is presented in the squares In front On every side may be seen piles ot Easter cakes, each with Its taper." waiting to be blessed. . About t o'clock in the moraine, after tha Initial a. - vices of th day. th ceremony of blessing the food takes place. The people rar.ge their dishes and baskets in long rows, with bsrely space for the priests to walk between. . T. alwhes are Indispensable st the Russian Eastor breakfast. One la the paahka, which conslsta of curds kutaH ktaiwij4 as a 4 uewaul m exa. I Jt af . a . .iZuZk "&mTwSl . TWJLl duh." of honor are decorated with candles and flowers. L Easter Mondny witnesses the distribution of paschal nd an business is uid aside. During the ensuing iiui,-iniiiwiCTi . un.uiii im vpKrvm SI MT)SGOW. where men gather In the Kremlin square and hold re ligions disputations. Priests and nobles keep away from th square at such times. Among the moat splendid services of the Roman Cath olic Church are those bld In famous old StMark's In Venice. These Include the ceremony of feet wsshlng, on" Holy Thursday; the Benediction, on Holy Saturday, .and High Mass on Easter Sunday. ' For the ceremony of feet washing a large square space Is made In tha middle nave. In which chairs are placed In a semicircle. Thirteen., old men. wearing long' white gowns, girdle and white stockings, hobble Into this space and remove th stocking from one foot. When all la ready the priests come out, heeded by acolytes bearing candles. A big brass swer and some towels are brought, and then th ranking priest pro ceeds with the ablutions. ' r He dips one hand In the water, strokes the foot before Mm several time, dries It with a towel and kisses It -After the ceremony Is over the old men retire to a draw ing room to resums their street costumes, and the lemon ,hr,mUity hM bQ UughL tbe-greenladlence X spec. In the evening the canals fre made brilliant by gon- In a A sw vei t mj m Ir K nsi rtw 1st si t aksai aa Kw rm.-l. dolus decorated with many lanterns and by fireworks. Hot cross buns are still a feature of Easter In Great Britain on Good Friday. In some of the counties of England "lifting" or "heaving Is still In vogue. On Easter Monday the men lift the women and the next day the women lift or attempt to lift, the men. Much hilariqr ensue from thla aocleut, custom, , I faUk y ill' v.. - I Burning Ac Effffr of Jit Jbcerrot ta Mexico U ETHER "one is tacinr the ttlT ' one is tacint the crowded Boardwalk at Atlantic City, listening to the wonderful . - . , . Strains' Of the trOmbOnecJhorUS Wafted from .L. U,Jf,v f L - .,, -i J"g OCljry Of 11X6 quamt Old fllOraVtOn Church at fttthlthsm Pa .UnttTm WZ nunn Uf BClMCncm, fO., Or WltneSStHf the llLoUMdas, the betrayer; in effigy V ' Mextco, one realizes Easter has come. Time of the most magnificent church ceremonials of the year, Easter also retains, . in many countries of the new world, some of the quaint traditional customs '6f. the old, and has others which are now followed, almost exclusively, on this side of the Atlantic, i ' ":; Especially 'in the Latin-countries in - Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America- are to be found interesting observances fecu-- nar to tne tLasterttaein some of these tra xtttton is curiously blended with devotion; Sr - -" - 'J Iw 3 a kssS An Easter Altar &uM in a r rM MEXICO and all over South America Judas' play a prominent part in the popular celebration of Easter. Holy Saturday Is especially devoted to him. Toward the betrayer of his Saviour popular ab horrence Is generally and most picturesquely expressed. On the morning of Good Friday images of Judas, large and small, but all distorted and grotesque of visage and . garoea in rough attire, are for sale in the shops.' ".rag. city the loiiowmg morning on may see Innumerable rope ' stretched across from house to house, and hundred of cfflgle of Judas dangling from them. All th morning th betrayer swing In th brees 11k gibbeted felon; he is flogged and maltreated. Th per son who devises ths most Ingenious and striking method -- . . . - . . T . ... . . . WT. ' . v.iwnpv or wapwig in gra Just before th noon hour arrives, fires small funeral pyres-ar buUt her and there in the streets. A few . minutes before U o'clock the people become -strangely silent; the Mtherto bustling noisy throngs are still. Only th ft1gie move; they still awing In th sunlight, passlv and unconcerned. - When the ball begin to strike the hour -the crowds awake to frensy. Yelling men tear down the swaying figures and cast them Into the flames, Each figure eon tains a quantity of gunpowder, which Is exploded by the flames, blowing the Judas to pieces. leCSS. Shouts of lov arrest tha nolan anit tha euellna- ahafta nt - ill-smelling smoke, for It symbolises ths fleeing of the betrayer's soul to. ths torments-which -he deserves so. richly. . - . Another quaint custom is witnessed In Cuba and other iAtln-Amerlcan countries. This Is the procession of the Imag of th Saviour. - -;-; r-'-;" ' A MARTIAL TOUCH . - While crowds gather about th church where the cere mony is to tske place usually a company of soldier , lendr a martial touch to th picture; a picture of th Church militant the gowned and surpllctd procession emerges from the door. First oomes a band of acolytes swinging censer. Next, borne on the shoulders of monks, Is a llfe-alsed waxen ' figure of the Saviour, with gaping,-bleeding wounds. Priests, with crosses snd many candles, follow. - As th procession marches down the street It Is met by another. A second figure, borne by four priests, heads this procession, and It la the figure of a woman Mary ' Magdalene coming to meet the Lord after the resurrec tion. A the processions meet the figure of Mary Magda lene turns and hurries away. She is going to carry the joyful news to the awaiting faithful. Cn the way she meete a third figure, also a woman,' robed In yellow sstln, adorned with gold and wearing a crown.. This Is the blessed Virgin. The two women pause, then go forward to meet the risen Lord, saluting him by bowing repeatedly. The ' three processions enter the- church, the troops fire a salvo, the music ends with a flourish and the people dls-, perse." Costa Ulca also witnesses the proceesiott through the ' Streets of priests and people, bearing a figure of Christ. If e !l - IXiust " . :, . i - s,-- Frequently the honor of helping to carry the figure Is so fiercely combated for that a mob-like tumult take place. aU teg th parade, wbsa th figure ha been returned ; '':" C f . ' ... . LT03N1NG, , APRIL 15, 19W IP.- y I ! -"ft V'y ft "It" ft eJ&ser&psKfe. In -the church, the people Dress forward to hiu k.na and feet. . ".'.'..'..-, , , . . Figures of the Virgin are also prominent In the Easter 7 V . lwr"monuu- o" UtUe church near Car-" A ; 'r Ivan notV ViJiL A. . V M mny yeft tM'vtr, Hive younger Mbstitutes m traininj to nn 1Sif lliLJZ, .th tl,, ,U m,n . Places when- the, deMto chor in turn 1, bounded for- This image, wood carved, is small and quaint It has ; them' , ' ' "wn aassea so much during an ths years that it is worn aunosvoui ox semblance to Its original form, Breaking the Easter ninata. la. an almost mhtrui H.cS,to, ttom thw-Rlo Grande to Patagonia. Thla feature " of the season Is for tho benefit of the children. ' , The plnata is a hollow doll, large or small, according t the financial ability of the family possessing it It Is generally constructed of clay or similar substance that Is easily broken. On Easter Sunday morning the little ones rally to this custom of "breaking the plnata" with the same enthusi asm that children In the United States rush for their stockings on Christmas morning. The, doll, filled with candles or containing a few pennies, la swung from the ceiling. .. .. Th children, blindfolded, are each 'given- wooden 2-b,.-ndS 5ch .U .Prn,ltud to tnr wings at the plnata. When it Is broken, there la a wild scramble for KMuaj or coma. X. CHILDREN'S CELEBRATION .J? u,M JdT wou,d not um ora to th chll-, dren of Waehlngton city were the time-honored custom ' of egg-rouing on the White House lot abolished. .Z?UllJ"ll ,CT?y,d ,,wn wle' the rolling take fe?:.anaiit5,lr..hI'Pr f"ter rings out upon the air... S.V et"iS.1,,i.d.,,w'tnbrl,rht-"ued r carried to th . .f the. Mil. and the fun begins. It Is usually wit 5f p'F"ed Pctators and often by th resident and his family from the windows of the Whit House. Jndln"at tetP hlH. the children roll th viien arnvi The shells damaged e One navt in ne cxcitea owners then race down :L. ' ;:."". 'L".r'""' ng at tne foot of the hill as soon a. tha r"'," " """7 revarenuy ar compared, and -the owner of tha wTaVt maxe ineir way to tne altar to receive the communion, n btnZu . "Easter services may be the same la form In all It isnas." wrote a witness of this Imnressive ritual soma At 1 o'clock the President gives a reception, and th IT . .DUl " w -n cn". among the repre chlldren seem to enjoy thoceremonlousbindaking as ?t"tSr" 0,.a I6. th,t b" "trang vicissitudes, much aa their eldenr do upon reception dayi Ts" apart-- Ult Und lon , Tot a-celntury ma- a hsTf TTi T6Wfl of BethTeHei IXit i if narratives of tne traveler. Espe - 1 - ..w.c, iui 1 1 imuvui iromoone cnorvs, jim an inuian convert, tne aionican chief, Tschoop, who is supposed to have been the father of Uncaa, made familiar to the world through the pen of J. FSnlmore Cooper, was burled In the Moravian cemetery at Bethle hem to the solemn strains of trombones. Nlns years later, while bands of lurking savages wer s-uirrm. bduui tne lown 10 surprise sna annihilate its . Vnvm, ail ths air. milar strain ef the trombone were wafted upon - The musts was Intended to announce tha death of na of the, members ef ths church, but th Indian Inter- nretatfl it mm m alOTiui At alarm mnA hnwUrf a w u A l.tt. . Ta v. ... . i Since then th trombone chorus har been an honored feature of the far-famed musical life of Bethlehem, par-, tlcularly on Eaater morning, and the sweet strains, waft- ed out upon the air rom the nelfry of the old Moravian church, form an expected feature of the religious cele- bratMn at Easter. - "There I nothing." says a recent writer, "more ra- matlcally impressive then th use of the trombones for piiblio proclamation, from th belfry of th great church. or certain solemn or joyous events. The musical tradl- cousins, all strolling, chatting, crowding and merrymak-il5lIL-S,.th?. churcJt elnyerw amJ performers Is almost as ng n on of th most rcmarkabl kaleidoscopic picture sacred to them aa the traditions of the former acting ef on earth. ... . . REINDEER DOWRIES IN LAPLAND W HEN a Lapland girl enters th. world and ha been duly rolled in th snow a ceremony which , seems to take ths place of , baptism she Is rinwerai! h Viae father with a certain number of reindeer. Theee ere branded with her initials or private mark, and are kept apart as her special property. In propor tion aa the flock enlarges does her chance of making a gond matoh Improve. - - When she approaches womanhood and her charms ' attraot the attention of the young men of the commu nity certain curious customs of courtship must be .on-, served. ... ... Two aids must be secured ty tne sirnirani ror ner V.-a - I .J -.a . , ITlnnln- these, he proceeds to the dwelling of the fair one. The lover remain outside, chopping wood or engaging . In eome other work calculated to Impress th girl's par- nt with a sense of bis industry, lbs friend enters th 'Ae arly Mornlnti Trombone. Ctioir at Bethchem, T3 Ac World a r; Atlantic CHy. N d. i - r: the Passion Play to the peasant of Oberamroergau. 'The trombone choir announces every-choir In the chnrch and the opening of each session of the Bach fes- tlvat It is composed, for the most part, of aid men .h. An interesting phase of the purely rellsloua side of the- season a -celebration Is furnished at Aha Convent of the Holy Family, Jn New Orleans, a convent for colored sisters. Hundreds of reverent spectators, many of them of prominent whits families, gather to witness the sol emn and impressive services in the convent chapel. ; Every Friday during Lent the sisters pass, in devo tlonnl humility, along the "Way of the Cross." kneeling before each of the bas-reliefs on the wall and chanting their prayers. On tho morning of Good Friday this "Way of the Cross" is traversed for' the last time and with greater solemnity than ever. The.chapeLto filled with flowars on thtlThursday be-L. fore Easter. In the. cathedral, nearby, the bishop washes the feet of twelve orphan boys, in commemoration of the v lesson of humility and helpfulness taught by the Saviour. a Extending over Saturday morning, the solemn and stately services commemorative of Chrlafs suffering and death at length give way to preparations for the celebra tion of the resurrection morn. The statues are unveiled, ' and all th signs of sorrow and lamentation are removed from view. Sllentlv. In the aerlv nnralio Vmmmm o... the sisters glide in and kneel with their faces turned toward the altar. Girl pupils of the academy, boarders In the convent and boys from the orphan asylum next wwiu ii. wjm pm My ineir places. When the deeienin rose eolar fif duvn tlvu mav n wiv in mi rys ot me rising sun. the priests, lit gold-cm-l. and the first masa of broldered robes, take their nl.r-e. sn th flr.t caster uaj Begins, rrom tne i choir gallery rise the rich notes of tne Kyrle. BYES-OF SIMPLE AITH- "It is not all merged In song and chant and long pro cessions of veiled nuns. It is the tragedy of the cross and the glory of the resurrection, vivid aa no painter has ver pictured it. and no pen has described, for It is looked upon with eyes ot simple faith and by a people whose glowing imagination easily outrun all th skill of artist or poof An. AfhA, V,lM ,lMtl. , lnl.lw. T I. nn, Ana nl religious devotion but of after-Lenten. Joyous acclaim of me renaoiuiaiea pleasures, oi in world ana in return of spring. , , This is th Picture ef Easter Sunday's parade on the Poardwalk at At lan tie City in many ways tha greatest Easter parade that the world witnesses. The broad, long wooden promenade along the ocean Shore is literally packed with human being, who have Journeyed, perhaps, from nearly every part of the land, t is an outing of brilliancy and fashion, the handsome gowns and gay head coverings of the women lending picturesque color to the moving mess. Esster at Atlantlo CItv is one of ths feature of mod ern American life. . There - one not onlv seee the world and his wife, but his children, his brothers, sisters snd house- or tent and opens, simultaneously, the bottle of brsndy and the nuptial negotiations. If the brandy and the proxy proposal prove acceptable, the waiting lover is called In and permitted t rub nose with his sweetheart, who presents him with a reindeer's tongue, probably to signify that h ts to hav control of her own tongue in the future. Two years or more elapse before th marriage take place. During the Interim th young man labors In th servic of ths girl's father a Laban-llke- arrangement that must be carried out. - - . When the marriage day arrives, a priest performs the ceremony, If one Is available. Otherwise, ths girl's father strike a spark from a flint and steel and pronounce th E TQtHIS OOUnla dulV STerillaA'. Upon the death of either, the flint and steel are burled with the body, In order that th departed may make a Are and keep warm v long journey Into th unknown world. . P A m i 'i-A-. - Aril v.a-a a HsBfl Hiiiieawii w iff siis jvuuiBs gses I V ILW in Mmmftinratlnn tt i hen !. Mnh(n aw .tiu. WnnflerTlllllf lMnAMaaNai a as aaaa..IA s t ; - - t . i
