All are standing bareheaded. The band is discoursing sweet music,
and the people stand entranced. Not a sound is heard till the tune is
ended; then, on every hand, arises a decorous murmur of delight. Here
comes the cura. He at once proceeds to arrange the procession, which is
the event of the feast, and to which the villagers have been looking
forward, with joyous anticipation, for many months. Mysterious groups
are issuing from the church. These are assigned to their respective
positions by the father, who, in this, as in all else, is the master
of ceremonies. Let us, however, leave the crowd and move a little
way up the street, where, before long, the procession is to pass.
Over the roadway, from airy arches, gaily decorated with bunting,
are suspended Chinese lanterns. On the gateways to the houses, on
all the fences that line the street, hang little fat-pots, whose pale
flicker, multiplied a thousand-fold, produces a most romantic effect,
to which the lights on the arches and the many-colored illuminated
lamps in the windows add a subdued splendor.
We have not long to wait; for the procession has been speedily
arranged, and is already making its way up the street, the band,
at the head, playing an operatic air.
Behind come the happy participants, two by two; men and women
alternating. All carry torches, whose glow throws over their grave
faces a gleam of soft light, that harmonizes well with the nature of
the occasion.
And now comes the spangled image of some old Saint borne aloft
on a litter; while a murmur of applause bursts from the admiring
onlookers. From every house rockets are shot into the heavens,
showering on the dusky night constellations of colored stars.
Thus, Saint after Saint, martyr after martyr, is majestically borne
along, till near the end of the procession appears the image of the
Virgin, herself "decked with jewels bright and with glory crowned."
Now the murmur rises to a shout of devout acclaim: the Queen of the
festive night, Our Lady, passes on.
Thus, through every street, winds the brilliant procession under the
lighted arches, returning finally to the village-court, whence it
started. Here the priest pronounces a benediction, and with a clash
of triumphant music the participants are dismissed.
The Entertainment at Home.
Again we accompany our host back to his hospitable mansion, where
a generous meal has been prepared for us. We partake heartily of
the good things: roast-pig, chicken, many kinds of native fruits,
and rice. At the close, cigarettes are passed round,--both men and
women smoking,--and we soon enter into conversation while the newer
arrivals are being served.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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