Holy Week in Spain [pp. 840-854]

HOLY WEEK IN SPAAIN.
The streets through which we walked on our way to the
Ayuntamiento were as crowded as if it were three o'clock in the
afternoon instead of three A.M.
This procession is called the Silenciosa, every one in it keeping strict silence from the time it sets out until it finishes.
Many of the nobles and grandees of Spain walk in it dressed
as Nazarenes. As they wear masks over their faces nobody
knows who they are, and they are most careful not to let themselves be recognized even by one another.
The pasos were splendid, and the costumes of the Roman
soldiers of extraordinary magnificence. The heels of their
boots and hilts of their swords were of gold, and their tunics
embroidered in gold and precious stones.
GOOD FRIDAY.
To-day throughout Spain every one dresses in deep mourning. In the morning there were the offices and Mass of the
Presanctified in the cathedral, and in the afternoon some
very interesting processions, one of which, the Santo Entierro,
I must describe.
After pasos of the crucifixion and taking down from the
cross, came a superb mausoleum of solid silver gilt, containing a
crystal case, through which could be seen Montaire's exquisitely carved figure of the dead Christ.
This was followed by a number of women dressed in black,
with thick veils covering their faces, carrying lighted candles; a
woman dressed in white, with a bandage over her eyes, to represent Faith; another as Veronica, with an open handkerchief in
her hand, and her long hair falling to her feet and covering
her face completely. These were people who came to fulfil an
ofrecemiento, or vow, they made to obtain some favor, or in
thanksgiving for one already granted.
Next came a guard of Roman soldiers; at their head a little
boy mounted on a beautiful horse, which he sat splendidly, although he rode without stirrups. The horse was unshod on
account of its being Good Friday. This was the Centurion.
His dress was superb, his tunic and cloak literally blazing with
precious stones. As he passed the queen his horse went down on
its knees, as a royal salute, then rose and passed on. Soldiers
followed, playing a requiem, with muffled trumpets and drums.
Then came another paso, Nurstra Senora de la Solidad (Our
Lady of Solitude), dressed in black velvet; her mantle, six or
seven yards in length, was held up by four or five women,
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[Mar.,