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Palestine
Easter Week
Easter is the chief festival in Palestine. It takes a
week to celebrate it, and during that time the last week of Christ's life
is rehearsed amidst brilliant ceremonies, not unlike the Passion-play of
Oberarnrnergau. An important ceremony takes place during Khmis il-Gusul
("Thursday of the Washing"), commemorating the washing of the disciples'
feet by Christ. Upon this day, under the gaze of great crowds, the Patriarch
of the Greeks himself washes the feet of some of his bishops.
On Saturday of Easter week as many as half a million people
are in Jerusalem, for the Moslems provide a counter attraction in the feast
of Nebi Mousa in order to bring the Moslem peasants into the city. They
come in great numbers, and go to the mosque. Here they unfurl their old
war banners of green, and form a parade, probably the most picturesque
of its kind in the world. They march from the mosque to the shrine of Moses
near the Dead Sea. The fact that this shrine is, undoubtedly, fictitious
does not keep down the crowds. It takes several hours to watch the parade
pass, and during that time one sees all one wants to of fanatic humanity.
Some of the sights strike awe into the hearts of thousands of children.
The Christians are not inactive on Saturday, for upon
that day "En-Nour" (the Light) must spring out of the old tomb of Christ
in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The tomb is directly under the dome,
in a small round building surrounded by the churches of all the sects.
One enters the first room, and then, through a low door, the next one,
in which to the right lies the supposed tomb. Most modem scholars agree
that Gordon's tomb, described in the chapter on Jerusalem, is the genuine
one, but the controversy is still undecided. This tomb is of gray marble,
about a foot and a half in height. People that enter kiss the marble, and
slip a coin into the hand of the polite and careful attendant. The marble
top of the tomb has a crack that runs across it, and it is through this
crack that the light must come on every Easter Saturday.
Many peasants believe that this light comes directly
from God as an annual miracle. They also believe that the flame will not
harm; it does not bum until it gets into the hands of sinners. Lanterns
are lighted with it and sent post-haste through the country, and the peasants
light candles from it, taking them to their houses. Just before a lantern
of the sacred flame reaches a village, the men carrying it form a procession,
and by lifting a few of their number on to their shoulders, they can escort
the light in lofty triumph into the village. First they go to the church
and then to the different houses. As they enter the village, they sing
a simple chant with great enthusiasm.
Sabt in-noor wa ayyadua,
Zurna Kabir Seyyadua,
Seyyadua Easa l-Masseeh;
Ma Deen illa Deen In-Nasara.
We have made a feast of the Saturday of the Light,
We have visited the tombs of our Master, who is Easa,
the Christ
There is no other save the Nazarite's religion.
Source: When I Was a Boy in Palestine by Mousa
J. Kaiee' Boston: Lothiop, Lee & Shepard Co., 1914, pp.129-132.
Jordan
Khamis al-Amwa~t (Dead Remembrance Thursday)
The Thursday after Easter is a day to visit cemeteries
and give colored eggs to the children. Before World War II, a visit to
the shrine of the Prophet Moses extended this into a three-day major holiday.
Ziyari t al-Nabi Mnsi (Visit to the Shrine of the Prophet Moses) or al-Ziylra
(The Visit). The holiday was instituted by the Muslim warrior Saladin to
counteract the huge gatherings of Christians and Jews in Jerusalem at this
time of year.
Source: Baytin: A Jordaniam Village by Abdulla
M. Lutiiyya.The Hague: Mouton, 1966, pp. 61-62
.
Iran
Easter in Azerbaijan
Easter comes in the spring when the land is a vast carpet
of wild flowers. The festival is celebrated in the home, the orchards and
the hayfields. Joy and happiness reign supreme for a whole week. The people
dress up in their best attire and pay visits. They greet each other
by saying, "May your Easter be a blessing. Each day is given over
to a different program. The first day of the festival is a visiting day,
the second day is for running and ball playing. The third and fourth days
they match colored eggs and play games. The final day the fun reaches
its climax as all these various pleasures are enjoyed together. They
play run, dance, and the boys have wrestling matches. The young people
enjoy themselves to such an extent that, for a week are heartbroken because
the festival is over.
Source:When I Was a Boy in Persia by Yovel B. Mirza.
Boston: Lorthorp, Lee & Shepard, 1920, p. 107
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