This Palm Sunday craft may be used during a procession in the church but it also is an excellent method for creating a palm branch prop for a play. Although it is simple the project has much better results when completed by older students, fifth grade and up. You will need eight sheets of green construction paper in all to complete a palm similar to this one. However, you can use this method with any number of sheets if you should desire to alter the size of the project. Fold the paper in an accordion fashion and then snip off the tips of the fonds in a curved-like fashion as seen in the far left hand photo above. The center photo shows how your accordion folds should look. You will then need to glue the edges of sets of four papers together to form a continuous sheet of palm leaves.
Left, I then bound both sets of palm leaves together with masking tape over the end of an old yard stick, one palm half on either side of my yard stick/ruler. Center, I added more tacky white glue to the edges of the palm leaves on the stick for strength. Right, I covered my tape with a small strip of paper, thereby giving the palm a clean look.
After leaving the palm branch to dray, I then glued the two accordion folded palms together down the center of my project and then wrapped the trunk of my branch with brown twine and white tacky glue to hide the writing on the old yard stick. On the far right you can see the completed palm branch.
As you can see by the photos, you may open the palm all the way into a circular shape and pin it down to the trunk of it's branch with a clamp of some sort. This gives the palm a very aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, I suggest that you only clamp this into place, not glue it permanently. This is because the palms store better when they are flat and closed at the top. Clamping them temporarily while on display will allow you to use them time and time again in future parades.
Crayon resist art projects are always popular for young people to make. This one is based upon a Palm Sunday theme.
Start with a large white piece of construction paper. Trace around your hands or the hands of your neighbor or a little of both using a purple magic marker. I've limited the color choices in this craft to purple and green, the most common color selection for that part of the Liturgical calendar.
After tracing many hands over lapping and waving in the air to reference the waving of palm branches, use bright purple crayons to color in bits and pieces of hand tracings in your abstract drawing. You may also choose to color some of the branches a variety of green shades; just don't color in all of the hand tracings. Leave some of the "palms" blank.
Now, carefully crumple the paper. If a bit of it tears have some masking tape on hand to repair little tears on the backside of the drawings.
Place the pictures on plastic or newspaper lined tables and proceed to give your students bowls of very watery green paint and large brushes. Have them brush washes of green or maybe even purple paint across the crayon resist pictures. You will end up with some lovely abstract palm paintings by the time you finish.
Holy Week in Mexico is important religious observance as well as important vacation period. It is preceded by several observances such as Lent and Carnival, as well as an observance of a day dedicated to the Virgin of the Sorrows, as well as a mass marking the abandonment of Jesus by the disciples. Holy Week proper begins on Palm Sunday,
with the palms used on this day often woven into intricate designs. In
many places processions, masses and other observances can happen all
week, but are most common on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, with just about every community marking the crucifixion of Jesus in some way on Good Friday. Holy Saturday is marked by the Burning of Judas,
especially in the center and south of the country, with Easter Sunday
usually marked by a mass as well as the ringing of church bells.
Mexico’s Holy Week traditions are mostly based on those from Spain,
brought over with the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire,
but observances have developed variations in different parts of the
country due to the evangelization process in the colonial period and
indigenous influences. Several locations have notable observances
related to Holy Week including Iztapalapa in Mexico City, Taxco, San Miguel de Allende and San Luis Potosí.
Palm Sunday procession of Trique people
n Santo Domingo, Oaxaca
Holy Week is one of the most widely celebrated and important religious observances in Mexico.
Almost all towns and cities in the country have some kind of public
observance during a two-week period that starts from Palm Sunday at
least to Easter Sunday and can extend into the week after. Mexican television
features movies, documentaries and other shows focused on the religious
event and other topics related to the Catholic faith, especially in
Latin America. The U.S. traditions surrounding Easter have made very little inroads in Mexico, with icons such as the Easter Bunny and events such as Easter egg hunts limited to supermarkets and areas right along the border with the United States. Like most Mexican Catholic traditions, those related to Holy Week and Easter are based on the Spanish Catholic calendar. Holy Week is preceded by Lent and Ash Wednesday, which itself is preceded by Carnival .
However, a number of traditions and customs have developed over the
centuries. As most Holy Week related events occur outside and in large
gatherings, “antojitos” (roughly translated as Mexican street food or snacks)
is the most associated with the holiday. Prior to Easter Sunday, Lenten
dietary rules are still in effect for the observant, so popular street
foods include pambazos
with cheese, fried fish, fried plantains, hot cakes/pancakes with
various toppings. Candies are a popular street food at this time,
especially traditional and regional ones made from coconut, tamarind
and various fruits. Holy Week was also the traditional start of the ice
cream and flavored ice season, which was originally made in Mexico City
with ice and snow brought down from the Popocatepetl
volcano. Ice cream fairs are still held at this time. Today’s frozen
treats include ice cream in tubs, as well as popsicles made from both
fruit and cream, as well as snow cones called “raspados.” Another popular refreshment is called “aguas frescas” or sugared drinks made from fruit or other natural flavorings such as tamarind or hibiscus
flowers. The reason for the popularity of both frozen desserts and
flavored drinks is that spring to early summer is generally the warmest
part of the year in Mexico.
Just before Holy Week proper, there are two events celebrated in
various parts of the country. The first is the feast of the Virgin of
Sorrows (Virgen de los Dolores). This occurs the Friday before Good
Friday and focuses on the pain and sacrifice of Mary knowing that Jesus
had to die to save mankind. This image of the Virgin is usually dressed
in purple and altars are set up to her on this day.
On the Wednesday before Easter, a mass called the “vespers of darkness”
(los matines de la tinieblas) recalls the disciples’ abandonment of
Jesus. The altar of the church will have a candelabra with fifteen candles, with one candle extinguished after the singing of a Psalm until only the center candle, representing Jesus, remains lit.
Procession with crosses at the
La Cuevita church in Iztapalapa
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, and many communities have special
masses dedicated to the blessing of palm fronds. These fronds are often
woven into crosses and other designs, sometimes quite intricate and
brought by parishioners to have holy water sprinkled on them. Some
fronds are later burned and the ashes saved for marking foreheads on the
following Ash Wednesday. Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the
celebration of Easter proper. Cathedrals in the country have special
masses celebrated by bishops, with “chrism” a sacred oil used in the sacraments, is consecrated. Many churches also hold reenactments of the Last Supper, but Masses usually omit the exchanges of greeting of peace as a reminder of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. From this day through Holy Saturday, church bells are traditionally not rung.
Reenactments of the day of crucifixion take place in almost all
communities in Mexico on Good Friday and for a number these traditions
extends to a passion play enacted most or all of Holy Week. The focus of
these reenactments focus on the carrying of the cross by Jesus and his
crucifixion as told by the Stations of the Cross. In major productions, hundreds of people participate including the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the Betrayal, the Judgment, the procession with the cross, the Crucifixion up to the Resurrection .
Holy Saturday is dedicated to vigil as the waiting time between
Jesus’ death and resurrection. Statues of the Virgin Mary are dressed in
black as a symbol of mourning.
Frequently there is a solemn evening mass during which participants
hold lighted candles. This is then followed by an event called the
Burning of Judas mostly practiced in central and southern Mexico Originally, it was the burning in effigy of the disciple that betrayed Jesus, a custom introduced to Mexico as part of the evangelization process. During the Mexican Inquisition,
effigies were also burnt to mock and protest the burning of people at
the stake. These effigies were banned but the idea of protest was
transferred to the Judas figures. The Burning of Judas continues in
other places but it has been banned in Mexico City because of safety and
pollution concerns. The figures are still made in the city but many are
now collector’s items.
Palm Sunday observance at a school
Easter Sunday is celebrated with mass which is usually crowded.
Church bells will again ring and the plazas around the churches after
Mass will be crowded with churchgoers as well as street vendors selling
food, toys, balloons and more.
In many areas, processions, masses and other activities extend for another week.
Mexico’s Holy Week traditions are based on Spanish ones brought over
during the Conquest, along with those created during the evangelization
process with some indigenous influence. This has resulted in variations
in the celebrations in various regions and towns. A number of these variations have become well known, such as those in Taxco, San Luis Potosí, San Miguel de Allende, Ajijic, and Iztapalapa in Mexico City. Other communities with notable celebrations include Pátzcuaro, Tzintzuntzan, Querétero, Huajicori, Mesa de Nayar, Creel, Cusarare (Chihuahua), San Ignacio Arareco (Chihuahua), Jerez, Atlixco, Temascalcingo, San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán.
The most famous passion play in Mexico is held in Iztapalapa in the
east of Mexico City. This production involves over 4000 local residents
(all of which are born in Iztapalapa) which perform scenes related to
the last week of Jesus’s life from Palm Sunday to Good Friday. The
production has been done each year since 1843 and today the spectacle
attracts over 2 million spectators, mostly Mexican. The play is not a
strictly Biblical production as there are a number of characters such as
a spy, a dog, a “wandering Jew” and others that are unique to this
event. When Christ is captured, Aztec drums and flutes are played. Pontius Pilate sentences Jesus on the town of Iztapalapa’s main square then whipped. He then carries a cross from this square to the Cerro de la Estrella
on a route over mile long through eight of the borough’s oldest
neighborhoods. The most important event is the procession with the cross
and the crucifixion scene portrayed on Cerro de la Estrella. Many
others called “Nazarenes” follow, carrying their own crosses and wearing
real crowns of thorns like Jesus. The play ends with Judas hanging
himself after the crucifixion.
Participant dressed as a Roman soldier
for the Iztapalapa passion play
Another important and unique commemoration of Holy Week occurs in Taxco in the state of Guerrero.
It begins on Palm Sunday, with a large wooden statue of Christ
traveling on a donkey from the town of Tehuilotepec about four miles to
the center of Taxco. The image is preceded in its entrance to Taxco by
children on bicycles and residents portraying the Twelve Apostles
as well as drummer. Processions continue all week, led by very young
children dressed as angels, immediately followed by older girls dressed
in white with white veils, walking barefoot and swinging incense burners
containing copal. In these processions, Biblical figures related to the
Passion of Christ
are represented by wooden statues from the town and surrounding
villages, carried on litters, accompanied by musical instruments playing
melodies with pre Hispanic influence. The most notable aspect of these
processions are the penitents
who inflict pain and suffering on themselves during the processions.
While these displays have moderated or disappeared in other parts of
Mexico, they remain severe in Taxco. Penitents form into three
brotherhoods called the Animas or Bent Ones, the Encruzados (the
Crossed) and the Flagelantes (Flagellants). All wear black robes, a
horsehair belt and a hood to hide their identity. The Animas walk in
procession bent at the waist, never straightening, carrying relics,
crosses or candles. This is the only brotherhood that admits women, who
are distinguished by lighter chains attached to their ankles. The
Encruzados carry a bundle of thorned blackberry canes of up to 100
pounds tied onto their shirtless back and arms with a candle in each
hand. The Flagelantes are also bare backed and carry a large wooden
cross, in their arms, in their hands are a rosary and a whip with metal
points. At appointed places, the penitent hands off the cross, kneels
and whips his back. One Maundy Thursday, a scene recreating the Garden
of Gethsemane
is set up at the Santa Prisca church and on Friday, the statue of Jesus
praying is “captured” and “jailed.” On Friday it is “crucified” inside
the church with the penitent brotherhoods looking on. A candlelight
vigil is on Holy Saturday ending late in the night with the announcement
that Christ has risen. Easter Sunday is quiet.
Amuzgo Good Friday procession in Xochistlahuaca.
San Miguel de Allende is noted for its observances of Holy Week, and for two weeks there is at least one procession per day. The focus for much of the pageantry is the “El Señor de la Columna” Christ image, which is brought from the sanctuary of Atotonilco
and paraded among the various churches of the area from the Sunday
before Palm Sunday to the Wednesday after Easter when it returns to
Atotonilco. On Good Friday, this image is carried to the parish church
of San Miguel, accompanied by residents dressed as the disciples and
Roman soldiers. At noon, images of the Holy Family, the disciples, Mary Magdalene and John the Baptist
are also in procession and a passion play is performed. At dark, the
images reappear in procession but dressed in black and accompanied by
measured drumbeats.
During this time , concheros dancers sporadically appear, especially in
the main square of San Miguel. The Burning of Judas occurs on Easter
Sunday, not Holy Saturday.
A number of cities and towns hold Processions of Silence, where
people march on the street holding candles in silence. The custom comes
from the Spanish city of Seville .
The most important of these processions is held in the city of San Luis
Potosí on Good Friday. It begins at 8pm at the Plaza del Carmen, with
actors dressed as Roman troops playing drums and bugle. This guard then
knocks on the door of the Carmen Church. The beginning of the procession
leaves the church, carrying crosses and paschal candles. They are
joined by more as they move onto the streets, dressed in white robes
with cone shaped hoods with symbols denoting what religious group they
belong to. In addition to the robed participants, there are also those
dressed as charros, and Adelitas (women of the Mexican Revolution)
as well as some in indigenous dress. The focal point of the procession
is a large figure of the Virgin of Solitude, the Virgin Mary left alone
after the death of Jesus. It and its platform weigh more than a ton and
are carried on the shoulders of forty men. The procession continues
around the town, punctuated by ritual speeches until midnight, when the
last of the robed figures returns to the Carmen Church.
Statue of a Flagelante penitent in Taxco
In Tzintzuntzan
for most of Holy Week, there are men on horseback, in red hoods and
lavender robes that patrol the area to make sure that stores or
craftsmen are doing business as usual. A central activity are
processions with penitents led by seven large crosses which have been in
the care of seven family for generations. These crosses are then at the
front of the parish church on Good Friday as a passion play is
performed. Local legend says that as recently as the 1970s, in a nearby
village, penitents still had themselves nailed to crosses.
A major pilgrimage site for Holy Week is Chalma, the second most visited pilgrimage site in Mexico after the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The focus of the pilgrimage is a image of a black crucified Christ and
the rites here are a mix of Christian and pre Hispanic influences, such
as bathers dipping into a fresh water spring for purification. Dance is a
central part of the rites, and an Aztec tradition states that newcomers
are obliged to dance for at least one tune.
Other important events for Holy Week include a procession behind a
black faced Christ figure in Patzcuaro, the veneration of a purple-robed
paper mache image of Christ at the San Francisco Church in the historic center of Mexico City and that of the Tarahumara in Chihuahua, who paint themselves white for ritual.
From Jericho, Jesus and his disciples went up the mountains,
and came to Bethany, where his friends Martha and Mary lived,
and where he had raised Lazarus to life. Many people in
Jerusalem heard that Jesus was there, and they went out of the
city to see him, for Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem.
Some came also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the
dead; but the rulers of the Jews said to each other:
"We must not only kill Jesus, but Lazarus,
also; because on his account so many of the people are going
after Jesus and are believing on him."
The friends of Jesus in Bethany made a supper for Jesus, at
the house of a man named Simon. He was called "Simon the
leper"; and perhaps he was one whom Jesus had cured of leprosy.
Jesus and his disciples, with Lazarus, leaned upon the couches
around the table, as the guests; and Martha was one of those
who waited upon them. While they were at the supper, Mary, the
sister of Lazarus, came into the room, carrying a sealed jar of
very precious perfume. She opened the jar, and poured some of
the perfume upon the head of Jesus, and some upon his feet; and
she wiped his feet with her long hair. And the whole house was
filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of the disciples of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, was not
pleased at this. He said: "Why was such a waste of the perfume
made? This might have been sold for more than forty-five
dollars, and the money given to the poor!"
This he said, but not because he cared for the poor. Judas
was the one who kept the bag of money for Jesus and the twelve;
and he was a thief, and took away for his own use all the money
that he could steal. But Jesus said:
"Let her alone; why do you find fault with
the woman? She has done a good work upon me. You have the
poor always with you, and whenever you wish, you can give to
them. But you will have me with you only a little while. She
has done what she could; for she has come to perfume my body
for its burial. And truly I say to you, that wherever the
gospel shall be preached throughout all the world, what this
woman has done shall be told in memory of her."
Perhaps Mary knew what others did not believe, that Jesus
was soon to die; and she showed her love for him, and her sorrow for his
coming death, by this rich gift. But Judas, the disciple who
carried the bag, was very angry at Jesus; and from that time
he was looking for a chance to betray Jesus, or to give him
up to his enemies. He went to the chief priests, and said:
"What will you give me, if I will put Jesus in your
hands?"
They said, "We will give you thirty pieces of silver."
And for thirty pieces of silver Judas promised to help them
take Jesus, and make him their prisoner.
On the morning after the supper at Bethany, Jesus called two
of his disciples, and said to them:
"Go into the next village, and at a place where two roads
cross; and there you will find an ass tied, and a colt with it.
Loose them, and bring them to me. And if any one says to you,
'Why do you do this?' say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and
they will let them go."
They went to the place and found the ass and the colt, and
were loosing them, when the owner said:
"What are you doing, untying the ass?"
And they said, as Jesus had told them to say:
"The Lord has need of it."
Then the owner gave them the ass and the colt
for the use of Jesus. They brought them to
Jesus on the Mount of Olives; and they laid some of their
own clothes on the colt for a cushion, and set Jesus upon
it. Then all the disciples and a very great multitude threw
their garments upon the ground for Jesus to ride upon.
Others cut down branches from the trees and laid them on the
ground. And as Jesus rode over the mountain toward
Jerusalem, many walked before him waving branches of palm
trees. And they all cried together:
"Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he
that cometh in the name of the Lord! Blessed be the kingdom
of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!"
These things they said, because they believed that Jesus was
the Christ, the Anointed King; and they hoped that he would now
set up his throne in Jerusalem. Some of the Pharisees in the
crowd, who did not believe in Jesus, said to him:
"Master, stop your disciples!"
But Jesus said:
"I tell you, that if these should be still, the very stones
would cry out!"
And when he came into Jerusalem with all this multitude, all
the city was filled with wonder. They said: "Who is this?"
And the multitude answered:
"This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee!"
And Jesus went into the Temple, and looked around it; but he
did not stay, because the hour was late. He went again to
Bethany, and there stayed at night with his friends.
These things took place on Sunday, the first day of the
week; and that Sunday in the year is called Palm Sunday,
because of the palm branches which the people carried before
Jesus.
Many people heard him gladly, but the
great city was deaf to his pleadings. "O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem," he cried, "thou that killest the prophets, how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not!"
Palm weavers are preparing for
Palm Sunday in the Philippines.
Spring Awakening by Esther L. Morrison "Spring is here! Spring is here!" called Snowdrop. "Who told you?" asked Yellow Crocus, sticking her head out of the ground. "Oh, I saw a robin and the buds on the trees looked as though they would burst any minute," she answered. Crocus yawned and said, "We must call violet." Very soon Violet was beside them. At last Snowdrop said, "It's time for Daffodil to wake up." When Daffodil was awake the flowers' bright-colored dresses looked so pretty together, they decided to have a party. They danced and sang so merrily that some children passing by heard their joyful calls and carried on the message of "spring is here."
The Easter parades in America are cultural events consisting of a festive strolling procession on Easter Sunday. Typically, these are somewhat informal and unorganized events, with or without religious significance. Persons participating in an Easter parade traditionally dress in new and fashionable clothing, particularly ladies' hats, and strive to impress others with their finery. The Easter parade is most closely associated with Fifth Avenue in New York City,
but Easter parades are held in many other cities. Starting as a
spontaneous event in the 1870s, the New York parade became increasingly
popular into the mid-20th century—in 1947, it was estimated to draw over
a million people. Its popularity has declined significantly, drawing only 30,000 in 2008.
Easter processions or parades, often including special dress, have been part of Christian culture since its earliest beginnings. The special dress was originally worn to show respect for the event by the participants. However, in our contemporary American culture, Easter parades in large cities such as New York are now primarily attended by people who wish to show off manifestations of those customs and traditions that have little to do with the church or congregants observing the suffering of Jesus. The New York Easter Parade has evolved into an parade similar to those celebrated at Marti Gras, that is a time designated for excessive party going and public display. During Marti Gras, this display is in keeping with the context of the original holiday's design unlike those celebrations that misrepresent the occasion of the crucifixion of Jesus.
The second took place as Jesus carried a cross to Calvary. These processions are often commemorated in Christian church services, and are seen as the earliest predecessors of Easter parades during the early 20th century. A procession of cross-bearers by Sprugeon (PDF) ********
"XXVI Jornada Mundial de la Juventud católica. Procesión Cristo Buena
Muerte y Ánimas de Málaga por calle Arenal de Madrid. El excelente y
admirable desfile de la Legión española, con dos escuadras de
gastadores, Banda de Guerra y una compañía, fue de los actos más
destacados, aportando notable españolidad, elegancia y seriedad."
Facts about parades associated with Easter throughout Christendom:
During the Dark Ages, Christians in Eastern Europe
would gather in a designated spot before Easter church services, then
walk solemnly to the church. Sometimes the congregation would form
another parade after the services, retracing their steps and singing
songs of praise. These processions had two purposes—to demonstrate to
churchgoers the unity of spirit found in their faith, and to reach out
to nonbelievers in a highly visible manner. Even in those times,
participants wore their finest attire to show respect for the occasion.
In the Middle Ages, the clergy
expanded these processions into teaching tools. Paintings and statues
would be placed along city streets, where church members could walk from
one to another to see all the "stations of the cross." To a public that had no access to the Bible and often could not understand the Latin language in which church services were conducted, these special processions were a means to understanding their faith.
Other parades have been held on important days during and close to Lent. An example can be found in today's parades on Mardi Gras. Beginning about 1782, German settlers in Pennsylvania held non-religious parades on Easter Monday, then widely celebrated as a holiday. The parades continued for over a century.
In the Philippines,
communities re-enact Jesus' triumphal entry with a procession. A statue
of Christ on the donkey or the officiating priest mounted on horse
process around or towards the local church, surrounded by palm-bearing
churchgoers. In some towns, elderly women spread heirloom "aprons" (made
for this sole purpose) or large cloths along the procession route in
imitation of the Jerusalemites. Children dressed as angels sometimes
sing the Osana ("Hosanna") whilst strewing flowers about. Once blessed, the ornately woven palaspas (palm branches), are
taken home by the faithful and are placed on altars or hung beside, on
or above doorways and windows.
The Via Dolorosa (Latin,"Way of Grief", "Way of Suffering" or simply "Painful Way") is a street, in two parts, within the Old City of Jerusalem, held to be the path that Jesus walked, carrying his cross, on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route from the Antonia Fortress west to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — a distance of about 600 metres (2,000 feet) — is a celebrated place of Christian pilgrimage. The current route has been established since the 18th century, replacing various earlier versions. It is today marked by nine Stations of the Cross; there have been fourteen stations since the late 15th century, with the remaining five stations being inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Each Friday,
a Roman Catholic procession walks the Via Dolorosa route, starting out
at the monastic complex by the first station; the procession is
organized by the Franciscans of this monastery, who also lead the
procession. Acted re-enactments also regularly take place on the route,
ranging from amateur productions with, for example, soldiers wearing
plastic helmets and vivid red polyester wraps, to more professional
drama with historically accurate clothing and props.
The Holy Fire (Greek Ἃγιον Φῶς, "Holy Light") is described by Orthodox Christians as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Great Saturday, or Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter.
It is considered by many to be the longest-attested annual miracle in
the Christian world. It has been consecutively documented since 1106
A.D., with previous references being sporadic. This is not an "organized" parade but it still is considered a spontaneous, traditional event that becomes a type of parade as the flames are passed from person to person down the city streets. The event commemorates the Pentecost.
Authorities attribute the introduction of elaborate Easter
ceremonies, including gaudy dress and display of personal finery, to the
Roman Emperor Constantine I in the early part of the 4th century, when he "ordered his subjects to dress in their finest and parade in honor of Christ's resurrection." Having new clothes for Easter had deep roots in European customs. Sacred
times called for special forms of dress—material markers of holiness
and celebration. Distinctive garb for Easter, like one's "Sunday best"
and the special vestments of priests, for centuries showed the solemnity and sacredness of the season.
Easter Parade photographs are from the New York Daily Tribune, 1908
The Trata, Or Ancient "Choros" Dance, at Megara, Greece, on Easter Tuesday. Participated in by all the young girls of a marriageable age. It is considered as an announcement that they are in the market for husbands. A sort of debut into society.
Blessing The Public Water Supply At Athens, Greece. This ceremony conducted annually by gorgeously robed priests, taken place about Easter time and calls out all, from royalty to the poorest beggar.
Easter in Seville, Spain. Sumptuously image of the Virgin, set in a forest of candles, is borne through the crowded streets.
Easter Parade in Fifth Avenue. One of the traditional Easter sights in America.
