|
By Maria Florez de Amarillas
The Hiaki word for Lent is “Waehma.” Waehma means “Lenten
Fasting.” Our Lord, Jesus Christ fasted for forty days and forty
nights prior to being captured by the Roman soldiers.
Ash Wednesday or “Naposa’awa,” which is the Hiaki term for Ash
Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent for Christians all over the
world. The ashes are distributed during that day, beginning in the early
morning hours and lasting until late evening. In the Hiaki communities,
most of the yoemia (people) will go to their respective community
chapels to receive their ashes. After the mass is held, the priest and the
Maehto will distribute the naposa to the faithful who have gathered in
the chapels. Using the ashes, the priest or maehto will make the sign of
the cross on the forehead of the faithful. The ashes remind us that we are
made from dust and upon our death, we will return to dust. It also
reminds the people with a “Tekia,” a ceremonial office, such as the
Kohtumvre Ya’ura (Custom Authority), better known to the Hiaki people
as the Kavayeom and the Chapayekam. The Church society, the
Maehto (prayer leader), Koparia (cantoras, singers), the Kiyohteim
(church assistants), the Tenanchim (assistants to the Kiyohtei), the
Vanteareom (flag girls), and the Anhelesim (angels, both boys and girls)
and their Godparents know that it is time once again to begin participating
in the “Way of the Cross” (“Konti Voo’o”) each and every Friday
until Good Friday. Those with a tekia will walk the way of the cross just
as Our Lord Jesus walked the path as he made his way to Calvary,
(Calvario) where he was put to death.
The Konti Voo’o is marked with crosses which mark the places
where Jesus fell as he made his way to Calvario. One Maehto walks with
the figure of Jesus on a cross and the Via Cruz leads the way. This is the
large cross which has a white cloth draped on it. The Maehto recites the
prayers and sings the alabanza “Jesus Tan Affligido” while the Koparia
assist him. The Holy figure of the Virgen Mother and Mary Magdalene
will leave the church shortly after. A second Maehto prays and leads the
Koparia in the alabanzas. They sing “Estabat Mater.” Each Friday, the
faithful carrying candles will walk the “Way of the Cross” accompanying
the “Tekiakame” (those with an office) until they return to the chapel
once again. Both groups will continue to say the prayers and sing the
alabanzas. The first “Fariseo” (Pharisee) or Chapayeka will make his
appearance on this first Friday. The first Friday is known as “Viernes
Savana,” which means the Friday of the Sheet. The sheet is the shroud
in which Jesus was buried. It is now known as the “Shroud of Turin.”
The second Friday, known as “Viernes Coronacion,” marks the day
that a thorncross was placed on Our Lord’s sacred head. The procession
leaves the church and returns after all the prayers and alabanzas have
been recited and sung. The second “Chapayeka” appears on this Friday.
The third Friday, known as “Viernes Flagellacion,” marks the flagellation
of Christ as he made his way to Kalvario. According to the
Bible, Christ suffered 5000 whippings during the time that he carried his
cross to his final destination. The procession again leaves the church
while prayers and alabanzas are offered. The third “Chapayeka” appears
as well as many other “Sontaum.”
The fourth Friday is known as “Viernes Samaritana.” On this
evening, Our Lady the Virgen Mother is “Captured.” The Holy Figures
on the altar are now draped in dark cloth.
The fifth Friday marks the advent of the feast day of San Lazaro.
San Lazaro is the patron saint of the dogs. According to the Holy Bible,
St. Lazarus was a leper who was scorned by the villagers. The villagers
felt disgust and disdain for this poor leper. The only friends of St.
Lazarus were his dogs. The dogs always followed him and when he
stopped to rest, the dogs would lick his sores. It was the dogs who
“cured” St. Lazarus of his leprosy by licking his sores. On his feast day,
the yoemia (people) will be very nice to their dogs. They will place a
special meal for their pet dogs in front of the household cross. A bright
red ribbon is placed on the neck of these pets and the pets enjoy the special
meal.
On the sixth Friday, known as “Viernes Dolores,” Our Lady’s heart
feels great pain as she knows that her son is about to be captured.
|
All this time, she has watched as her son carried the heavy wooden cross
through the streets of Jerusalem, all the while being flogged and
whipped when he collapsed from his whippings and the weight of the
cross. The next day, Saturday, begins the feast of San Ramon. The ceremony
lasts all night. The next day, is Palm Sunday. On this day, the Holy
Palms are distributed to the “Tekiakame” and then to the community
members.
Monday begin Holy Week or “Semana Mayor.” All the participants
and community members are asked to remove their jewelry, and the
ladies are asked to refrain from using makeup, lipstick colors and they
must leave their hair down. Sunglasses are also not allowed.
In the old country, during this week, the “Sontaum” (Fariseos) will
be ever viligant of the pueplo yoremia. They will make sure that no
washing of clothing is taking place, no ironing, no cooking, and no hard
physical labor should take place. Those who do not comply with this
requirement will be asked to accompany the “Sontaum” and the
“Kavos” to the “Wardia” (Guardhouse) to go before the “Ya’uchim,” the
leaders of the Tropa. There they have to explain why they are not
observing the rules for Holy Week. This is not currently done in the
Arizona communities; according to the elders, it was a practice that was
discontinued about 55 years ago.
On Holy Wednesday, it is known as the “Tenebrae" or “Tiniebla.”
Tiniebla means darkening. A candelabra is placed in front of the chapel
and here are placed 14 candles. As the prayers and hymns are completed,
the candles are slowly extinguished one by one. Finally, when they
are all extinguished, the whole area remains in complete darkness,
except for a single candle which has been placed under the altar. Other
activities take place which are not discussed here.
On Holy Thursday, an area which represents the garden where Jesus
prayed is constructed. This is when the “Nazareno” (Nazarene) is captured.
Good Friday marks the day when Jesus was crucified. It is a very sad
day for all Christianity, but particularly for the Hiaki people who have
walked the path of Christ as he made his way to Kalvario. On this day,
too, the tropa, except for the Kavayeros, put on their mourning clothing.
The tropa then approach the front of the chapel. Here there is a grove of
branches and within the grove is placed the holy figure of Christ. Pilato,
accompanied by a soldier, approaches the figure of Christ. The spear of
Pilato then “pierces” the ribcage of Christ. With this the tropa leaves the
church. The hymns that are chanted for the crucified Christ begin. They
are indeed very sad and mournful. Tears of sadness are evident on the
faces of the faithful. During the night, the tropa watches the fallen Christ
while he is laying in his funeral bier, the “Urnia.” The Urnia is a beautiful
bier which is gaily and colorfully adorned with many different
flowers, ribbons and other items. A dove and a rooster decorate the top
of the urnia. The community members who took the vow to decorate the
urnia always do a beautiful job of decorating it.
On Holy Saturday, at dawn, Jesus returns to life. At midmorning,
and depending on which chapel one goes to, the “Gloria” is done at different
time intervals. The Kohtumvre’s (except for the Kavayeria) will
run the Gloria as this is their goal to reach “Heaven” as they have
repented from their bad treatment of Jesus. The celebration of Our
Lord’s resurrection continues throughout the rest of the night. The next
day is Easter Sunday.
The celebration continues. On that morning, the Holy figures of St.
John and Mary Magdalene will leave the church and approach the Kuh
Mayor, the cross which marks the entry way into the chapel. A vanderera
(Alpes) accompanies Magdalene. This activity signifies St. John
running to the home of Our Holy Mother to tell her that Jesus is not in
his tomb. Mary Magdalene also runs to tell Our Holy Mother these same
news.
The faces of the pueplo yoemia and the “Tekiakame” displays happiness
and yet a sense of sadness prevails. These people will probably
not see each other again until the following year, and perhaps not even
then if one of them leaves this earth during the year. There is a sense of
satisfaction, of renewal and peace, as our people now have the strength
and endurance to go on about their lives, until the following year, when
Lent is once again upon us.
|