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Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Central America

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 7, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 27.

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Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Central America

By F. E. CARY

F. E. CARY
THESE two days are celebrated throughout the Spanish countries of Central America in the following way: A man is dressed up to represent Jesus, and a mock trial and crucifixion take place. Men are dressed to represent Roman soldiers, who buffet, deride, and spit upon the man representing Jesus. They also place a crown of thorns on his head, pierce him with spears, and make him carry a cross. In every way, except by killing the victim they torture, they mock the crucifixion of Jesus.
The evening of the following day they meet in a little house made of green boughs and decked with colored cloth. Here they confess their sins, and cry, and pray for themselves. Some are not sober enough to know what they are doing.
The following day, which is Sunday, they get a forked limb or small tree, and wrap plantain leaves about it. They then get clothes, shoes, hat, false face, and belt for machete, and dress up a representative of Diabolo (the devil), meaning Judas. This figure is then set upon a mule, and, with pistols in his belt and a basket by his side, driven up and down the streets. The people then make out a will, and each article of his dress is bequeathed to the owner, and given back after the will is read. Great sport is made when the will is read at the most prominent Spanish houses, and the borrowed articles are returned. When the figure is stripped in this way by degrees, it is dragged off by little Spanish boys and burned.
Later in the day two veiled men, dressed in special costume, one on horseback, hurry through the streets as if looking for some one. They represent centurions, looking to see if Jesus is really dead.
As I see this mockery and slander of the Holy Scriptures and Jesus, I long to tell all of his love, whom to know aright is life eternal. Pray for this needy field.
Bonacca, Central America.