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Show Jwfod (SrotlietliOQcf tSanp (it CliriAttnciA One of the most Impressive customs cus-toms in the world Is observed In swuzerlanfi where the "singing at the fountains" Is done by the Se-bastiani Se-bastiani brotherhood in the picturesque pictur-esque spa town of Rheinfelden. According to the Swiss writer Gottleib Wyss, the custom is more than 400 years old, dating from 1540 when a plague, sweeping through many lands, visited Rheinfelden. Twelve men formed a brotherhood in honor of St. Sebastian, promising tq pray tp him tp safeguard their town from further distress,. They also, undertook tp purse these afflicted af-flicted by the plague and to bury its victims- If one of their own members died, the brethren acted 8 pallbearers, and up to. the present day, by their own selection, the membership of the brotherhood has remained at 12. Pestilence in the medieval period was ascribed to the evil spirits In the water, and when the Sebastian! brethren make their rounds of seven fountains on Christmas eve, they start at the fountain In the "Froschweide" where the plague started in the 16th century. After singing for the seventh time near the town church, they join its congregation con-gregation for midnight mass, first placing their quaint mounted lantern, lan-tern, with its lighted candle, before, the altar of St. Sebastian. For their Christmas eve singing at twelve, brethren are dressed in dark clothes and black silk top-hats. Around their lantern-bearer they stand in a circle and three times, as the name of Christ is mentioned in their song, they uncover their heads. On New Vear's eve, between 9 and 10 o'clock, the Brethren make another round of the fountains, this time singing an old song which concludes with the wish that St. Sebastin may intercede for all in the New Year so that they may be safeguarded from war. pestilence and other perils. |