THE PROCESSION OF DEATH IN SILESIA.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1018, 6 April 1883, Page 2

THE PROCESSION OF DEATH IN SILESIA.

■»- . - ■; ■: Amongst the inhabitants of Silesia (now, a province of Russia), consisting of a < mixture of German and Slavonian races, there has existed from the most remote times a very Strange custom—the procession of death — which takes place early in the spring, before Easter. With the Germans death is represented by a puppet dressed in man’s clothing; the procession is only composed of men, the fair sex contenting themselves with looking at the show. Amongst the Slavonians, on the contrary, death is a puppet dressed in female garb, which is carried by young girls. This difference arises from the fact thafc the word death (Fed) is masculine in German and (smert) feminine in Slavonic. As soon as the winter is over, which is the image of death, the inhabitants of the different villages and boroughs of Silesia think it their duly to drive death away from their places of abode, and throw it into the river, a rivulet, or a well. They throw it into the water especially, because water was the element that kept death a prisoner throughout the winter. A lake would not be suitable ; but a river, becoming free, and increased by the thawing of the snow, is the right element in which it is necessary to drown that ; terrible divinity, ■ The young ladies put on for the occasion their most beautiful attire, and merrily go to the river, - carrying the puppet on their shoulders; the young men follow, throwing their hats in the air, shouting merrily. One of the young ladies carries behind the procession a small fir with wreaths on 5 it is the emblem of life, the strength of nature opposed to death. When the procession arrives on the banks of the river, the young girls throw the puppet into the water ; loud cries of joy resound, and the whole day is then given up to pleasure, and dances. The songs sung on the occasion present a medley of Christian and heathen ideas ; but they praise charity, which is largely practised on that day. In the village inns a splendid dinner is prepared at the expense of the community, and all, rich and poor, are invited to take part in it. The poor, besides, receive a distribution of cast-off dresses,— Tserhomti Vestnih (Church Messenger) St, Petersburg.