Quasimodo

Cuasimodo is a Catholic religious celebration held by Huaso farmers in different locations in the central valley of Chile, on the first Sunday following Easter. It traditionally consists of a horse procession that serves as an escort for the priest who carries the sacred vessels with the Eucharist in a cart prepared for the occasion, with the purpose of taking it to the sick and elderly who were not able to take communion during the Easter Triduum.

The bodyguards, called quasimodists, are organized into brotherhoods and dress in a special way, highlighting a scarf, usually white, to cover their hair as a sign of respect for the sacramented Christ, given that a hat should not be worn in his presence. They also cover their huaso clothing with a short cape called a esclavina. Although it is a festival with rural roots, it has been adapted to the city, where processions are carried out by bicycle or even in motorized vehicles.

The quasi-modist brotherhoods prepare during the year, normally associated with huaso clubs, making their outfits and decorating the cart or carts. In addition, the procession is accompanied by a choir of liturgical singers in a cart or truck. In their traditional form, quasimodists accompany or run to Christ in mounted pairs that are fixed.

It is currently one of the main religious celebrations in the country. Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Chile in 1987, declared it a "true treasure of the people of God."

History

The IV Lateran Council, held in November 1215, established the precept for every Catholic to take communion at least once a year, during the Easter season (from Easter to Pentecost). It became common then for priests to They brought communion to the sick and elderly who lived in rural areas and who could not attend Holy Mass.

During Indian Chile the priest rode in a carriage covered with his ornaments and carrying sacred vessels, generally made of gold. However, during the period of the New Homeland, bandits emerged who attacked the processions without respecting the clergy, stealing from the priest. Therefore, they began to leave escorted by armed men on horseback as a deterrent and precautionary measure to protect the integrity of the sacred forms and the priest himself. This action became part of Chilean folklore and the community acquired the tradition of accompanying this group, which also fulfilled the mission of remembering the Resurrection of Christ, a central miracle and basis of Catholic Faith and doctrine. Although it was born as an eminently rural activity, over time this festival became integrated into the culture of the urban periphery of the city of Santiago.

There are no chronicles from the colonial era that confirm the traditional origin of the Quasimodo. During the dawn of the Republic the first records appear. At that time, this festival belonging to the popular liturgical sense was devalued. Nowadays the Quasimodo festival has a large number of participants, with many quasimodo clubs participating. ^{[citation required]}

Etymology

The word Quasimodo comes from the first words of the introit of the second Sunday of Easter, Quasi moda genti infantes..., (from the Latin, «Just as newborn children born..."), date on which the Quasimodo takes place. The Greeks called it Dominica nova, because of the new life that those baptized at Easter had to begin.

These baptized people received, upon baptism, a white dress: a symbol of purity, the Sunday dress, and which today is replaced with a white linen cloth which must be placed on the head of the newly baptized minor. These vestments were worn during the eight days from Holy Saturday to Quasimodo Sunday, on which day they were left in the sacristy of the church, for which reason it is also called Dominica in albis.