The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-31
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Antiqutty OF the FesttvaL-Curfous Cas-
TOMAS and superssastsns AppertAAniag 90
the seassn-Basxer In Jcrusaleua, Sc
The festival Of Easter Is said 70 be Of PnaniciSn
origin called E.tareer AstSrh and also learn that
the saxo celebrated feast at this in honor Of
their goddess Ecs., who wzsfrobaby tho E-a< Of the
Eastern nat,ns II Ia presumed that W present IL
derived from mis- goddess, though scme consider that il
comes from the Angosaxon word yt-a storn-the time
of Easter being suboetto the continual Of
TEN pestuoos weather The festival h at the present
day held ny the CHRISTIAN churchcs In com mneusora
ton Of the resurrection Of Saviour. In the
Greek and Latin churches s called Pascha, originally
derived rom the Hebrew word pesech signify ing pas
sage which the name given TO the great feast Of the
Passover held by the Jews at the period OF the year
when Che paocd the equator; and II on the
day xpon which that feast celebrated thsc s.
vosr held his pascha feast. The Rngsh werd pascha,
spped 10 tie lamb which formed part Of the Last sup
per- and the French term for PaqSecame from
tho That tho observation q Easter is ae
ancient az Gle time Of the Apostles undoubted.
In the seooG century however, controversy arose es
time of its celebration. The Eastern churches
kept it or the fourteenth day Of the first Jewish
month ant the Western tbo night which preceded the
anniversary of Sayiourn resurrection the noonve
nence ofvhe former tina. this festival common
y held apon other days Of the week than the first or
Sunday, which undoubtedly the proper day. The
dsputars retained their respective customs till towards
the middle Of the fourth century, wien the rule for the
celebration Of Easter fixed by the Council cf Nce
A. D. S25. 1t then ordered TO be held tho Sunday
which falls next after the first full moon folcwng the
21st 6 March, vernal equinox According 10 this rule
whick holds good the churches tho present
time, the earliest possible day of the year on which
Easter Sunday fol- is the 22d Of March, and the latest
the 25th of April fen thcformer day ir 1918, and
cannot again happen on.that day till the year 22s5 Eas
ter the principal movable feast Of the year, and
gulstes the position of all the others.
Easter day is observed Throughout Christendom with
peculiar rites. In the Roman Catholic church high mass
rs celebrated andthe Host s adored with the greatest
reverence and IN the Episcopal special appropriate
Woes are appointed for this day.
In the Middle Ages, when the only theatres were
churches and the monks were the only actors, plays
frequentot up at Easter for popular amusement
these generally religious mysteries treating Of the
various incidents Of which the festival was commenora
tive, and were called "Resurrectior Plays" and the
scenery, machinery, dresses and decorations of
scale accordance with the spendor of the church
vices of the period.
Monday and Tuesday in Easter week generally OBJ.
served as holidays the schools and factories of Great
Britain bvt the pecuarites which formerly rendered
these days important in the eyes OF pleasure ceekers
are fast fading away. Alas, for the Londoners that
great cocney carnival, Greenwich Fair is now numbered
among the things that were the charter under which IL
was held having been withdrawn within the last half
dozen years. and fond farewell has been paid to the
"fun Of the fair" the "merry goround" the dancing
booth with its beery fdders and choking clouds of saw
dust and last though not least Richardson show, where
you could witness Ave act drama and see the sailor
hornppe danced and pantemims performed in Vie space
Of quarter Of hour and coll for the low charge Of
one penny"
Cricket and other games with bat and ball. are very
common at present date considered peculiar
to this season, the custom having been handed down
from Romish times, when the clergy used TO handy
bali about in church part Of the services Of the day
In carly days. VOC, mayors and Aldermen and other big
wigs, used to issue forth with their psraphernas Of
Sate TO take part in the ball practice and eat tansey
cake-a custom derived from the Romish church, and
symboca Of the bitter herbs used by the Jews 81 their
paschal.
Among the Easter sports Of the olden time one
called the "water quintain," in the performance Of
which many an unlucky wight has been precipitated
into the strcam and gained nothing but wctting 70
his prize peculiar pastme called "Lifting" originally
designed 70 rerresent Saviours resurrection and
OF the absurd performances handed down from the
bewderng ceremonies Of the early Romish church. Is
st practised Faster Monday and Tuesday in Of
the northern counties Of England The practice consists
in Eftng up person in gayy decorated chair, the men
lifting the women on the former day. and the reverse
being the order Of the latter The persons lifted
peced TO present fee but they have the privilege Of
kissing those engaged lifting that If the fair ones
loo foH
consider the performance cheap at the price. In some
parts Of Ireland customary or the people on Easter
Monday congregate at avorite promenade each
person going with the avowed object Of seeing the fair
but doubtless in the hope Of taking active part in
the performance when we consider that this con-
sists In the men kissing tho females, without
reserve, married Tho sautation always taken
matter Of COURSE and anss, and plain indeed
must be the daughter Of Eve who does not get dozen
hearty busses during the day.
An Easter custom belonging TO the Islands Of Sclly is
called goose dancing; 1t consists In the young and
maidens exchar gng epparel and thus disguised they
visit their neghbors in companies dance and crack jokes
upon what has happened in the island during the past
year. inform every Of his her faults without
offence being taken By this yearly custom and toera-
tion spirit OF wit and drolery is kept up among the
people.
II 10 curious 10 notice the causes which have led 10
certain dishes receiving prominent place on the table
at particular times. La many parts d England Ia Gus
tomry agammon Of bacon at Easter This practice
Is said to have originated desire to show proper alb
hoence Of Jews at this particular and the poo
pie continue the practice without knowing from whscoe
it s derived. Whilst alludEg TO the Jews may mea-
tou custom instituted In the city Of Toulouse in France,
by Charlcmagne which was that at Easter any Christian
might give box the Jew whenever he chanoed
to meet one, mark OF Contempt TO the nation which
had crucihed the Saviour This scandAous was
the OF centuries, oommuted for tax, and the
money appropriated to the ef Of the churches
The mutual presentation at this season. Of oolore< eggs
friends prevails various parts Of the continent Of
Europe and in the north Of England. These cce Eas
eggs they termed by peculiar process have
their sheds ornamented with colorcd devices,
with names, dates other appropriate inscriptions.