Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Book I - XI. The Feast of San Sebastiano
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i so the miracles of* antichrist
And the pious people of Diamante decided that
the feast should be held one week, and that San
Sebastiano should be celebrated by a display of
colors and decorations, and by races, and a biblical
procession, and illuminations and song competition.
So they set about with great bustle and zeal. In
every house was scrubbing and polishing. The old
procession clothes were taken out and preparations
were made to receive guests from all Etna.
The only house in Diamante where all was quiet
was the summer-palace. Donna Elisa was deeply
grieved over this, but she could not persuade Donna
Micaela to allow her house to be decorated. " How
can you ask that I should decorate such a house of
sorrow with flowers and greens? " she said. " The
roses would shed their petals, were I to use them to
conceal the misery which reigns here."
But Donna Elisa was wholly wrapped up in the
feast, and expected that much good would come of
celebrating the saints as in former days. She talked
of nothing else, save how the priests were having the
facade of the cathedral decorated in the old Sicilian
fashion, with silver flowers and mirrors. And she
described the festive procession. There would be so
many horsemen, and the plumes in their hats would
be so high, and so long, and they would carry
flower-twined canes with wax candles at the top in their
hands.
The first feast-day found Donna Elisa’s house
decorated most gorgeously. One saw there Italy’s
green white and red flag fluttering from the roof, and
red gold-fringed banners with the Saint’s monograms
were spread out over window-sills and balcony rails.
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