Pasionaria, La See Dolores Ibarruri
Pasolini X.pa-so-'le-neV, Pier Paolo (b. March 5, 1922, Bologna, Italy—d. Nov. 2, 1975, Ostia, near Rome) Italian film director, poet, and novelist. He wrote novels about Rome’s slum life as well as a significant body of poetry. Pasolini became a screenwriter in the mid-1950s, collabo¬ rating most notably on Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria (1956). His directorial debut, Accattone (1961), was based on his novel A Violent Life (1959). His best-known film, stylistically unorthodox and implicitly radi¬ cal, is perhaps The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (1964). Later films include Oedipus Rex (1967), Teorema (1968), Medea (1969), The Can¬ terbury Tales (1972), and The Arabian Nights (1974), which won a spe¬ cial jury prize at Cannes. His use of eroticism, violence, and depravity were criticized by Italian religious authorities.
pasqueflower See anemone
passage, rite of Any of numerous ceremonial events, existing in all societies, that mark the passage of an individual from one social or reli¬ gious status to another. The term was coined by the French anthropolo¬ gist Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957) in 1909. Many of the most important rites are connected with the biological stages of life—birth, maturity, reproduction, and death. Other rites celebrate changes that are wholly cultural, such as initiation into special societies. In modem societies, graduation from school is a rite of passage. Scholars often interpret rites of passage as mechanisms by which society confronts and incorporates change without disrupting the equilibrium necessary to social order. See also SECRET SOCIETY.
Passamaquoddy Bay Inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between southwest¬ ern New Brunswick, Canada, and southeastern Maine, U.S., at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Deer Island and Campobello Island are in its southern part. It has an immense tidal flow, with about 70 billion cu ft (2 billion cu m) entering and leaving twice daily on the turn of the tide.
passenger pigeon Extinct species ( Ectopistes migratorius ) of pigeon (subfamily Columbinae, family Columbidae). Passenger pigeons were about 13 in. (32 cm) long and had a long pointed tail; the male was pinkish, with a blue-gray head. Bil¬ lions inhabited eastern North America in the early 19th century; migrating flocks darkened the skies for days at a time. Gunners began to slaughter them in huge numbers for shipping by railway carloads for sale in city meat markets. Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, died in 1914 in the Cincinnati Zoo. The bird’s extinction was largely respon¬ sible for ending the marketing of game birds and gave major impetus to the conservation movement.
passerine Any perching bird. All passerines belong to the largest order of birds, Passeriformes, and have feet specialized for holding onto a horizontal branch (perching). The pas¬ serine foot has three forward-directed toes and one backward-directed toe. Most passerines have moderately curved, sharp claws. Some ground¬ dwelling species (e.g., larks, pipits) have flatter, longer feet. Species that spend much time airborne (e.g., swallows) have small, weak feet. Species that cling and climb (e.g., nuthatches) have strong, sharp, curved claws. Passerines include about 4,000 species of oscines (songbirds; suborder Passere, or Oscines) and 1,100 species of suboscines (suborders Eury- laimi, called broadbills; Tyranni, including flycatchers; and Menurae, including lyrebirds). Suboscines lack the syrinx of the songbirds or have only a poorly developed one, but some can utter complex vocalizations. All passerines are land birds, abundant worldwide except in Antarctica. Most are insectivorous, solitary nesters that build a cup-shaped open nest.
Passion Musical setting of the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. The early Passion consisted entirely of plainchant. Liturgical enactments of Christ’s Passion date from the early Middle Ages, the characters’ parts being sung by individual celebrants and the crowd’s role by the congre¬ gation. Polyphonic Passions began appearing in the 15th century. In the German tradition exemplified by Heinrich Schutz, the Passion closely resembles the dramatic oratorio, with solo arias and other ensembles contrasting with choral sections; the alternative MOTET-style Passion lacked solo sections and avoided dramatic oppositions. After the 18th century, Passions ceased to be widely composed.
Passion play Religious drama of medieval origin dealing with the suf¬ fering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Early Passion plays were written in Latin and consisted of Gospel readings alternating with poetic descrip¬ tions of the events of Christ’s Passion (i.e., his sufferings between the Last Supper and his death). Use of the vernacular for these poetic pas¬ sages led to the development of independent vernacular plays. By the 16th century many of the plays had been overtaken by secular influences and had become mere popular entertainments. Some survived into the 21st century, most notably the one performed by local villagers every 10 years at Oberammergau, Ger. See also liturgical drama; miracle play; mystery play.
passionflower family Family Passifloraceae, composed of about 600 species of herbaceous or woody vines, shrubs, and trees in 20 gen¬ era. Members of this family grow mostly in warm regions. Many species produce edible fruits. Members of the largest genus, Passiflora, are highly prized for their showy, unusual flowers. A pedestal-like structure in the centre of the flower carries the reproductive parts of both sexes. The pas¬ sionflower blossom is often used to symbolize events in the last hours (Passion) of Jesus, which accounts for the name of the group.
passive resistance See civil disobedience, satyagraha
Passover In Judaism, the holiday commemorating the liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Before sending a plague to destroy the firstborn of the Egyptians, God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to place a special mark above their doors as a signal for the angel of death to pass over (i.e., spare the residents). The festival of Passover begins on the 15th and ends on the 22nd (in Israel, the 21st) day of the month of Nisan (March or April). During Passover only unleavened bread may be
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H. ROGER-VIOLLET
Passenger pigeon, mounted (Ectopistes migratorius)
BILL REASONS-THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY COLLECTION/PHOTO RESEARCHERS
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
1456 I passport ► Patarine
eaten, symbolizing the Hebrews’ suffering in bondage and the haste with which they left Egypt. On the first night of Passover, a Seder is held, and the Haggadah is read aloud.
passport Document issued by a national government identifying a trav¬ eler as a citizen with a right to protection while abroad and a right to return to the country of citizenship. It is normally a small booklet con¬ taining a description and photograph of the bearer. Most nations require entering travelers to obtain a visa, an endorsement on the passport show¬ ing that the proper authorities have examined it and permitting the bearer to enter the country and remain for a specified period.
pasta Any of several starchy food pastes (pasta alimentaria ) made from semolina, the purified middlings (endosperm) of a hard wheat called durum. Pasta is traditionally associated with Italian cuisine, though it may have entered Europe from Asia during the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. In making pasta, semolina dough is rolled out and sliced or com¬ pacted and forced through perforated plates (dies) that form it into the desired shape. It is produced in the form of sheets, ribbons, cords, tubes, and other shapes, each with its own name (e.g., spaghetti, macaroni). The formed dough is then dried under controlled conditions. Pasta is boiled and topped with a sauce or combined with other foods before serving.
pastel Drawing medium consisting of fragile, finger-size crayons called pastels, made of powdered pigments combined with a minimum of non- greasy binder (usually gum tragacanth or, from the mid-20th century, methyl cellulose). Because pigment applied with pastel does not change in colour value, the final effect can be seen immediately. Pastel remains on the surface of the paper and thus can be easily obliterated unless pro¬ tected by glass or a fixative spray of glue size or gum solution. When pastel is applied in short strokes or linearly, it is usually classed as draw¬ ing; when it is rubbed, smeared, and blended to achieve painterly effects, it is often regarded as a painting medium.