Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/173

 THE JOURNAL OF

AMERICAN FOLK-LORE.

Vol. XII.— JULY-SEPTEMBER, 1899.— No. XLVI.

��HOLY WEEK IN MEXICO.

Several elements enter into the Holy Week celebration in Mexico. Much of it is no doubt to be found in every Catholic land ; some is Spanish simply ; some is peculiar to Mexico, or is so tinged with local color as to be almost so. We make no attempt to separate these elements ; we aim only to present a sketch of the celebration.

To describe Holy Week celebration in Mexico in detail and ade- quately would require long study ; the results would fill a large volume. The Passion Play alone — celebrated in hundreds of places and varying profoundly with locality — presents an enormous field. The observances in Casas de ejereios, "houses of exercise," — includ- ing retreat, meditation, prayer, fasting, wearing of thorn crowns, flagellation, etc., not here at all discussed, — deserves careful investi- gation. This paper is merely suggestive of the opportunity the subject presents for folk-lore study.

VIERNES DE DOLORES : FRIDAY OF GRIEF.

The celebrations begin on the Friday preceding Palm Sunday. Notwithstanding its sad name, the day is a gala day. Floral decora- tions are to be everywhere seen. Music is rendered in the Plaza ; crowds of well-dressed persons are on the promenades. Enterprising merchants send out men with great baskets full of bouquets of fine flowers, which are given to all ladies. In the City of Mexico, a procession of boats and canoes, beautifully decorated with flowers, takes place on the Viga Canal. In cities, cheap decorations are sold to the poor, — artificial flowers, miniature trees, palms, ferns, cycad fronds, little glass globes filled with bright red or yellow water. Men, women, and children sit in the market-place braiding flowers, stars, and crowns of palm, which are sold for a cent or two cents each. The articles are carried to the churches, and placed as decora- tive gifts upon or about the altar. During the day, in thousands of humble homes, little shrines or altars are fitted up and decorated with these simple things ; at the centre of them all is the picture of

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