POLISH STATE WEDDED TO THE BALTIC.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 1872, 13 February 1920, Page 7

POLISH STATE WEDDED TO THE BALTIC.

DRAMATIC CEREMONIAL ON THE SEA COAST. (A. & N.Z.) (Ree. February 13, 9 a.m.) LONDON, February 12. The Polish correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" states that Putzig, a seaside resort on the Baltic, was the scene., of a memorable ceremony on February 10. Polish cavalry, under General Haller, rode fetlock deep into the sea, symbolising that Polish territory once more reaches the Baltic. Polish troops have completed the occupation of the territory separating West Prussia from Danzig. The populace boisterously welcomed the troops, and the roads were garlanded with flowers. In the presence of detachments of troops of the British, French and other Allies, and amid the booming of puns, General Haller's cavalry rode into the half-frozen waters of the Gulf of Danzig. As they rode back from Ihe sea they dismounted and closed round a flagstaff, a Roman Catholic bishop dedicating the Polish colours. General Haller drew off a golden ring, and flung it far to seaward, crying: As Venice symbolised her marriage with the Adriatic, so we Poles symbolise our re-marriage with our dear Baltic. Up to 1789 tin' State Galley of the Doges of Venice put to sea every year on Ascension Day to perform the ceremony of "wedding the sea." The custom seems to have dated from about 1000 A.D., when the Doge Orseolo 11. conquered Dalmatia and symbolised the maritime dominion of Venice. Ascension Day was chosen because it was on that day Orseolo set out on his expedition, and the ceremony originally was one of supplication and plaeation. A solemn procession of boats, headed by the Buccntaur, put out to sea by the Lido port. A prayer was offered that "for us ami all who sail thereon, the sea may be calm and quiet." Then the Doge and others were sprinkled with holy water, the unused portion being thrown into the sea, while the priests chanted "Purge me with hyssop and 1 shall be clean." About 1177 a sacramental character was given to the function by I'opo Alexander 111., in return for the services rendered by Venice in the struggle against the Emperor Frederick I. Drawing a ring from his ringer, and giving it to the Doge, the Pope bade him cast such a one into the sea each year on Ascension Day, and so wed the sea; so that the ceremony thereafter became nuptial instead of placatory and expiatory. Every year the Doge dropped a consecrated ring into the sea, and with the words "Desponsamua te, mare" ("We wed thee, O Sea), declared Venice and the sea to be indis•olubly oiio.