| Show ceremonies odd and impressive in latin lands easter observances that seem quaint to Us pilgrims gather at jerusalem many quaint ceremonies L monies grew up through the cen centuries aurles in connection with ti laster some 0 of f the oddest are those prevailing in thi latin countries spain portugal mexico and in fact all the latin american nat lops among these peoples ludas judas the betrayer plays an important part appealing strongly to their vivid imaginations harry 1 L rogers writes in grit gril holy saturday Is especially devoted to judas and on this occasion he Is flogged burned hanged and sometimes even blown up in effigy booths are erected in many of these latin american towns and figures of judas distorted and grotesque are sold by the thousands ropes hopes are then strung across the streets or from house to house from which the effigies effi gies are suspended sometimes times loaded with gunpowder at a signal the effi effigies gies are lighted and the downfall of the betrayer Is accomplished with appropriate denunciations similarly effigies effi gies of the christ mary magdalene find and the virgin mary play an important part in the celebrations in these countries though unlike the figures of judas they are treated with profound reverence and respect often being paraded through the streets by priests and lighted by hundreds of candles the ceremonies at easter time in rome nome seat of the holy catho catholic lie church are particularly elaborate and impressive but it Is 18 in palestine among the holy places that the most impressive celebration of faster easter occurs from every part of the world thousands of pilgrims assemble at the holy sepulchre on monday of 0 holy week the pilgrimage to the river jordan takes place and some of the faithful of every nationality and almost every creed splash in the consecrated waters at jordan ford dipping themselves thrice in honor of the trinity and filling bottles pans and other receptacles with the miraculous ra waters often ragged and footsore the pilgrims grims visit the holy places the chapel of the lie ascension where be llanera may see tile the rock with the footprint of jesus the garden of geth the grotto of agony where J udas kissed the lord up the via dolorosa with its fourteen stations ench each commemorating some act of christ the lie pil pilgrims grinis crowd to the church Cli of the holy sepulcher where they jostle each other to kiss the undulation du lation in the stone wall made by file lie shoulder of jesus as he fell from the he cross afterward this vast army of if armenians Armen ians russians poles turks jews syrians europeans and americans cans too sometimes elbow each other othe r in their eagerness to purchase the holy relies relics vended bended by fakirs fakiri in the market places grit |
