Daily Alta California, 7 February 1881.
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Our Mexican Letter.
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Description of the December Festivities
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The Churches, Music and Procession
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Mexican Fireworks
[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ALTA.]
Tipec, January 19th, 1881.
Editors Alta: The week ending on the 12th of December is one of much interest and excitement to the people of Tepic, and, in fact, to the whole population of Mexico. I wrote you in my last that the fiesta of La Purissima Concepcion was being celebrated; but it was not till the 8th of December, the last day of the fiesta, that the great display was made. On the evening of the 7th, the church on the plaza was not only illuminated upon its dome and walls, but inside it was a perfect blaze of candles, suspended upon wires, and tastefully and ingeniously arranged throughout the whole edifice, which reflected upon the rich adornments of the altar, and the various paintings.
The church was crowded, crammed mostly female, all on their knees — even to the street, and upon the plaza opposite were as many more, disappointed in gaining admission. The music had be strengthened by the addition of brass and string instruments and additional voices, and was very enjoyable. The services lasted two hours, consisting mostly of selections by the choir and orchestra, with occasional chanting by the priests, of whom there were five conducting the service. Before the services and after, the seven bells in the tower were rung as loudly as it was possible for the seven imps that control them to make them ring, and hundreds of rockets were sent up, all adding to the
SOLEMNITY OF THE OCCASION.
In respect to these bells, a greater nuisance never existed, It is prohibited by the Government, but is overlooked by the authorities here. In Mexico and Guadalajara but five seconds are allowed for the ringing, but here it is almost continual. The boy that rings the small bell, suspended on a beam, in a window of the tower, the sound of which I do not believe can be illustrated by any note in music, has the special maledictions of the gentleman from Nevada, whose room is on the opposite corner, and if his wishes could have been granted that boy’s neck would certainly have been broken by falling from the tower.
The evening of the next day was ushered in by the militart band performing through the streets, and other performances from the “chimes.” In the morning several masses were performed, and at five in the afternoon one of the prettiest of sights was witnessed in the church. Hundreds of little girls, some dressed in pure white, others in blue, others in blue and white, assembled to offer flowers at the altar where was an image of the Virgin.
The ceremony was witnessed by as many as was capable of crowding in the church, and with the continuous music, the mixed assemblage, the beautiful little girls, so prettily dressed, the burning of incense, the hundreds of candles, all made it a scene especially remarkable to a stranger. After more rockets and ringing of bells, the people gradually deserted the streets, and
TEPIC REGAINED ITS USUAL QUIET.
But on the next night there was an increase in the number of lanterns in the streets and decorations upon the houses. The white curtains which had been placed at the windows and doors, festooned with a blue ribbon, had been removed, and it could be seen that preparations were being made for the celebration of the fiesta of La Señora Guadalupe.
On the 10th the band was again marched through the streets at half past three in the morning, then bells gave a terrific ring, and innumerable rockets were sent up. The houses were gaily decorated with lace spreads over the balconies, or in the windows, embellished by the national colors, red, green, and white. Pinned to these curtains was a strip of paper, in the same colors, on which was printed: “No higo cosa semajante con toio Nacion; honor y gloria al Madre de Mejico.” (No other nation has received similar benefits; honor and glory to the Mother of Mexico).
In the churches masses were celebrated during the day, and business was generally suspended. In the evening the church was literally ablaze, outside and in, and addionally decorated with hundreds of ingeniously cut ornaments from tissue paper and festoons in the national colors. The usual ceremonies were preformed, excellent music predominating. Afterward more rockets, more bell ringing. The morning of the 12th, Guadalupe’s Day, was again similar to the day previous, and as the day advanced, it could readily be seen that this was indeed a fiesta.
IT BEING SUNDAY,
Too, upon which day the streets about the plaza are filled with the people selling their fruits, vegetables, cheese, etc, more people were present. Rockets were sent off all the day; music was heard everywhere; bells were ringing, of course, and the people were quite festive, particularly those Señoritas favored with the name of Guadalupe, and who are quite willing to receive the presents and compliments it is the coclumbre del pais to bestow on a Señorita’s Saint day.
But the fun reached its highest point in the evening. As soon as it was dark the church was beautifully illuminated to its dome, and seemed a complete mass of fire. The band was playing in its pretty pavilion in the plaza; thousands were promenading; the edge of the sidewalk having been reserved for teh chairs of such families as chose to sit and observe the mixed procession. Often a balloon, to which was suspended rockets and other fireworks, was sent up.
The Mexicans display much taste in the constructon of these large tisane paper balloons, and in the manner of sending them up. Later in the evening could be seen hundreds of the little fires, elevated upon an apparatus composed of three sticks, and which gave light to the vendors of fruits, sugar cane, etc. Now were heard the shouts and laughter of all, and a rush was made to one side of the plaza, where was seens the strangest exebition of fireworks that ever I witnessed.
A FIGURE OF A BULL
Had been prepared, life size, which was carried on the head of a man, inside of which was arranged an assortment of fireworks. The man ran around the plaza, followed by the crowd, the rockets going up from the bull, blue lights blazing from his sides continuing for quite a time. The performance was quite a success, and created muchisimo amusement.
Another firework exhibited was exceedingly pretty, and was called La Correo. A wire was streched from a building to the walls of the church, a distance of some 300 feet. From one end of this wire a revolving piece of fireworks was started, which swiftly went the length of it, throwing its sparks for at least ten feet till it reached the walls of the church, when exploding loudly, it instantly went back on the wire to where it stared from, exploded again and was consumed. Many of these were exhibited during the evening.
The whole was concluded by another exhibition of fireworks, a large piece that was intended to be a success, but unfortunately, was not so. The expense of all these exhibitions must have been considerable, and of course comes from the people, although the Church gest the credit for it.