Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/89

 Fig. 37 (Pl. II.). A bowl-shaped bronze (?) medal (?), worn smooth on both faces, mounteil in silver with a loop for attachment at each end ; Madrid. The bronze has a hole near each end, serving to fasten it before the silver mounting was put on. Said to be for the cure and the subsequent prevention of erysipelas (erisipela). Fig. 38 (Pl. II.). A bowl-shaped bronze medal, with, the outer face worn smooth, and with a saint bearing a cross upon the inner face ; Seville. A hole for suspension, elongated by much usage, is near the upper edge. No information was obtained concerning it further than that it was an amulet and (by a leading question) "Byzantine."

Several bronze medals of S. Anastasius were noted, bearing on their obverse the head of the saint and an inscription such as "Imago • S • Anasiasi • M • et • M.," and on their reverse an inscription such as " Im • S • Anasta • Mon • et • Mart • cvivs • aspec • fugari • dœmon • morbosq • repell • Acta • 2 • Con • Nic • testant • Rovmæ." The specific application of these medals in Spain was not ascertained ; in Italy they are used against demoniacal possession, witches, and sickness. Annually, on June 23rd, the day before St. John's Day, a ceremony takes place in one of the principal plazas at San Sebastian. A large ash-tree having been erected, at about 4 p.m. the Chapter of the Parish of S. Vicente, preceded by the municipal band, marches to the tree, which is then formally blessed. The tree is then "burnt" by lighting a small quantity of inflammable material placed about it, and is finally overthrown in order that it may be stripped of its limbs and branches by the great crowd (largely children and young people) gathered for the purpose. The pieces are eagerly scrambled for by the younger element, while the more sedate spectators ask for bits from those fortunate enough to have secured large pieces. The pieces are hung up within houses, or upon balconies, and are said to bring good luck.