White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-04-21
dstfaI aita Curious
Easter Eggs.

In Dran1-S ROnulaf AntlduttiSS VIC
find many curious customs in reference to
Easter eggs. Giving eggs at Easter is to
be traced up to tie theology and Philos-
ophy of the Egyptians. Persians. Gauls.
Greeks, Romans, &c, among all Of whom
an egg was an emblem Of the universe,
the work OF the Supreme Divinity. The
Jews adopted the egg to suit the circum-
stances of their history, as type OF their
departure from the land of Egypt; and
it was used in the feast of the passover as
part of the furniture Of the table, with
the Paschal Lamb. Tie Christians have
certainly used it on this day, as retaining
the elements of future life, for an emblem
of the Resurrection. 1t seems as if the
egg was decorated for religious trophy,
after the days of modification and absti-
hence were over, and festivity had taken
place and as an emblem of the resurrec-
ton of life, certified to US by the resnr-
rection from the regions of death and the
grave.
In Italy and Spain, where almost ev-
cry ancient superstition is retained, there
are in public places certain sports with
eggs.
That the Church Of Rome has consid-
cred eggs as emblematical Of the Resur-
rection may be gathered from the subse-
quent prayer which may be found in an
extract from the ritual of Pope Paul the
Fifth, for the use of England, Ireland
and Scotland It contains various other
forms of benediction. "Bless, o Lord,
we beseech thee, this thy creature of eggs.
that it may become a wholesale sustenance
to thy faithful servants, eating it in thank
fitness to thee, on account of the Resur-
reetion of our Lord"
On Easter Eve and Easter Day, all
the heads of families send great chargers
full of hard eggs to the church to get
them blessed, which the priests perform
by saying several appointed prayers and
making great signs of the cross over them,
and sprinkling them with holy water
As soon as the eggs are blessed, every
one carries his portion home, and carseth
large table to be set in the best room
in the house, and covered with the best
linen, all bestrewed with flowers, and
placed round about it dozen dishes of
meat. and the great charger of eggs in the
midst. IT'S very pleasant sight to see
these tables set forth in the houses of great
persons, when they expose on side tables
Ground about the chamber) all the plate
they have in the house, and whatever else
they have that is rich and curious, in hon
or Of their Easter eggs, which of them yield
a very fair show, for the shells of them
are all painted with divers colors and
gilt. Sometimes there are no less than
twenty dozen in the same charger, neatly
laid together in the form of a pyramid
! The table continues in the same posture.
covered, all the Easter week, and all
those who come to visit them in that time
are invited TO eat an Easter eg; with
them. which they must not refuse.
Easter Day, says the Able d. Aute
oroche. in his journey to Siberia, is set
apart for visiting in Russia. A Russian
came into my room, offered me his hail,
and gave me. at the same time, an egg.
Another followed. who also embraced
and gave me an egg. | gave him in re-
turn the egg which had just before re-
ceived. The men go to each others hous-
es in the morning and introduce them
selves by saying, "Jesus Christ is risen"
The answer is Eyes, he is risen" The
people then embrace, give each other eggs,
and drink great deal of brandy.
The Russians have an order at Easter
which they always observe. and that is
/ this : every year against Easter, to dye
or color red with Brazil wood, great
number of eggs, of which every man and
woman giveth one unto the priest of the
parish upon easter day, in the morning.
And moreover, the common people used
to carry in their hands one of these red
eggs, not only upon Easter day, but also
for three or four days after, and gentlemen
and ! gentlewomen have eggs gilded,
which they carry in like manner They
use it as they say, for great love, and
in token of the resurrection, whereof they
rejoice. For when two friends meet du-
ring the Easter holidays. they come and
take one another by the hand /; the one of
them saith, The Lord, or Christ is risen |;
the other answereth, it is so of a truth |;
and then they kiss and exchange their
eggs. both men and women continuing in
kissing four days together. Our ancient
friend, we suspect, means no more here,
it should seem, than that the Easter GER
emony was kept up for four days.