Don Pasquale assured me that the festival had an importance in this region scarcely less than that of Christmas.

At the hour of high mass I entered the sanctuary whither all were turning their steps; it was not easy to make a way beyond the portico, but when I had slowly pressed forward through the dense crowd, I found that the musical part of the service was being performed by a lively string-band, up in a gallery.

For seats there was no room; a standing multitude filled the whole church before the altar, and the sound of gossiping voices at moments all but overcame that of the music.

I know not at what point of the worship I chanced to be present; heat and intolerable odours soon drove me forth again, but I retained an impression of jollity, rather than of reverence.

Those screaming and twanging instruments sounded much like an invitation to the dance, and all the faces about me were radiant with cheerfulness.
Just such a throng, of course, attended upon the festival of god or goddess ere the old religion was transformed.