| St. James in the Streets: The Religious Processions of Lo'za Aldea, Puerto Rico Contributor(s): Zaragoza, Edward C. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0810830701 ISBN-13: 9780810830707 Publisher: Scarecrow Press OUR PRICE: $112.10 Product Type: Hardcover Published: November 1995 Annotation: Too often liturgical studies have focused on the official liturgies of the church, neglecting the rituals of popular religion. This is the story of a popular religious celebration, a liturgy of the streets, the annual fiesta of St. James the Apostle in Lo'za Aldea, Puerto Rico. Includes photographs. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion - History | Caribbean & West Indies - General - Social Science | Customs & Traditions |
| Dewey: 394 |
| LCCN: 95035832 |
| Series: Drew University Studies in Liturgy |
| Physical Information: 0.66" H x 6.4" W x 9.06" (0.88 lbs) 198 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Caribbean & West Indies |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The story of a popular religious celebration, a "liturgy of the streets," the annual fiesta of St. James the Apostle in LoD'iza Aldea, Puerto Rico. It is also the story of how three cultures joined by a history of conquest and slavery--the Hispanic, African, and Arawak Indian--provide the fiesta with its unique configuration of symbols and meaning. Zaragoza describes the history of the celebration and the fiesta itself in rich detail, amply illustrating the text with photographs. Through a close study of the rituals and symbols of the celebration, he shows how the religious processions honoring St. James reveal two views of life. The statues of the saint imagine life to be like him, faithful and triumphant. The four ritual clowns which accompany the statues, the Spanish Gentleman, the Moor, the Old Man, and the Crazy Woman, show that life is not always victorious but more often ambiguous and ironic. However, at the close of the fiesta, the dominant image of St. James as the conquering hero remains. |