Looking at the processions today on Easter Sunday, the clapping seems out of place for a mintue or two. Then you realize that this kind of clapping is more fitting than the cheering of a soccer game -- pure celebration, congratulation, and encouragement for those toiling to make the processions perfect. The saints are on humongous wooden gilded platforms carried by about 20 people. They slog across town from church to church, accompanied by a band behind and spectators gawking from both sides of the street. These last for about a week, with different saints leaving each day.
Today we saw Jesus finding Mary. At one point in the procession, he bows down on his knees to her and flowers fall from the sky. After, they go into the main square and do a sort of parlay dance -- back and forth, back and forth. Then Jesus kneels again to Mary, Mary to Jesus, and doves were realeased out from under the platforms, flying over the square filled with hundreds of people. I think this is the climax of Easter Sunday -- afterwards, everyone is happy and fulfilled and goes to the cafes to drink a couple of non-alcoholic beers.
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