Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/176

 164 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

seme to Rome." This silence remains — so far as bells are con- cerned — until the Gloria of Saturday, when they peal forth once more. While they are silent, great wooden rattles, called matracas^ are sounded from the church towers. Small matracas, of many materials and of various patterns, are sounded by children on the street. The dealers in these toys carry frames or trees covered with them which are sold for prices from one cent up to several dollars, according to material and workmanship. Some of these, made of silver or pearl shell, are particularly prized. Horses and other beasts of burden are relieved, and the streets are quite bare of vehicles. Shops and stores are closed, and little business is done except in the selling of matracas and Judases. In many churches, beautiful decorations are arranged, and parties of visitors — ladies particularly — go on foot from church to church to view them. Sometimes these are no more than a crucified Christ laid upon the ground in front of the Virgin Mother. Very commonly a great tableau is erected of the Last Supper, with full-sized figures of Christ and the Twelve at the table.

SABADO DE GLORIA : SATURDAY OF GLORY.

During Holy Week, from Monday to Friday inclusive, parents do not whip their children, no matter how naughty they may be. On Saturday morning the children beg for matracas, Judases, and water. If the children have deserved whipping, they all of them are given their deserts, in place of " water" which they have asked. The water they refer to is the blessed water mentioned below.

Early in the morning the "new fire" struck from a flint is blessed. A candle is lighted from the spark and carried through the church by a deacon, who shouts, Lumen Christi. The paschal candle is blessed and then the font. "The priest breathes on the water in the form of a cross, and plunges the paschal candle three times into the water. Thus he shows that the Spirit of God is to hallow it, and the power of Christ is to descend upon it. The water in the font is scattered toward the four quarters of the world, to indicate the catholicity of the Church and the world-wide efficacy of her sacra- ments." The people then bring water for blessing, which is taken home and sprinkled, in order to keep off disease, death, and devils during the year. (Guadalajara.)

The bells wake up at nine o'clock, when the Gloria occurs in the mass. Later in the day, Judas is burned. This is perhaps the most popular celebration of the year. For several day's figures of Judas have been sold on the streets. They are of all sizes and forms, and are made of paper pulp. There are male Judases and female Judases ! They may be fine gentlemen, dudes, ruffians, ass-headed beings,

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