The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-04-20
Easter sunday.

subject
Eastcr.-This most ancient and most
glorious Of all the sacred festivals, was
Pcalled during "A long period by the beaut,
| full name of Pascha. 1t is still! celebrated
under the appellation pence, in many OF the
rural districts of England. 1t IA clear
that this term is u corruption OF the name
given to the great feast of the Hebrews
The derivation of the word Easter has
given aniiquaries no little trouble. Many
OF the highest authorities are confident
that this feast Of feasts received its name
from the potent Saxon goddess, Edsfre,
whose festival was kept in the month OF
showers. 1t is also derived from East, to
eat, from tho removal off the restrictions OF
Lent, and the restoration of liberty to the
captive appetites. This etymology Is
plausible, but it is 80 earnal and sroveling'
We are slow to accept IL, notwithstanding
its exceeding epeciousness. Tins me
name is traced by not few patient scioi-
ars to the Saxon word Oscar, which signlhes
to rise. Aqfusfehung, in the German
means resurrection, aud though the differ
cncc between that and the title under con-
sidcration is somewhat broad, the changes
through which many words have passed
almost Justify us, in regarding the eupho-
Nous modern appcllation Ms corruption
of the harsh and ancient one.
The resurrection was concentrated NJ
the dawn of Christiahlty, md many sup
pose they have traced the glori"hs festival
, to the days yet fragrant with tie gracious
words and mighty deeds 81 Hin " hose tn
umph it celebrates But whether kept by
. the Christians who heard and saw the Don
/, ID God, or not, it is placed beyond doubt
| that the Queen of Festivals was solemnis'
cd in the rnriiest DAYS of the Church.
. The crlrhrs'ion Of the rising OF the "a.
4 VIC. is on the first Sunday after the full
= moon, on the DIST of March. This time
II was fixed by the Council of Nice, IN go
g but owing to the imperfect knowledge OF
|. astronomy, that ordinance failed to secure
: the uniform observance of this feasti I'LL
II Pope Gregory the Thirteenth altered the
! system of rrconing, and corrected the VIA
4 error that was found TO exist in the caien
!. der. Limits have thus been set to TIM
II Joyous anniversary, and "f.aStrr-day can
not fall earlier than the 22d of March, no
=. later than the 25h of April"
- The primitive Christians spent the nlSh
:, Lrforr Easter in devotional EXERCISES ant
! ut the first CROW Of the cock, they cxclaim
=, cd "THc Lord has rjScn," aud those VIII
- were ,alutcd made answer, "1He Lord
?. riyca, NITRATE
- We trace the pretty custom di prrsen
-. ting eggs to friends at the opening OF Ear
~ ter to the svmboIical meaning they bore
Of an exceedingly remote period. Among III
-. Eovptians they were the emblems OF w
III RENOVATION ofthe human family after III
=, universal food They were part OF ID
~ Paschal Supper oflhe Hebrews, as n W
Of their departure from the land OF u
= pharaohs. The primitive Christians ado
l.. ted the coc rs an emblem of the resurre
cy tiOn. ,
NJ The children in Mesopotamia, on East
.rr dav, color all their eggs they can buy
II, hes, with some red substance, IN cominei
nj Grafton &C the crucifction. The DO,
H.. throughout England stain them with juic
n, of various colors, boil them hard, and spo
,,. with them on the grass.
nd The Russians on meeting upon the mo
,n Of yesterday, give each other colored egg
,nJ The common people carry red eggs in thu
.,,n hands on this anniversary and tho 10
.rp succeeding days; and the higher class
,,o, observe this ancient custom with eggs CO
fine cred with gold leaf. ;,
,r I'm the time of Edward L., four hnndr
INV and fifty gi!dcd eggs were diStrlented
,,J the roval household. And i: is worthy
49,, note that all these eggs cost but eighlte
,n1 pence.
~ II was the custom, for n long series
,I,, wears. for the Mayor, Aldermen and Oh
mo-, if of Ncwcastlc-on-Tync with the Ii
van ocscs, to go in procession i'll the robes
~. nlicc, and with the cmhlrlns of authorl
- +, = sn,cious and beautiful mall, and
Van moss he game of hand-baIl, and tn
49,, hiyh officials would often forget for t
" The dignity Of their posts, and engage
the maniuI sport
,lIy Once upon time, while the Mayor
... Chester was observing this strange
= ancient cu.tom, his daughter was car
''''! AWAY hy her lover who was not aglcc;
TO the old gentleman. >,
.lopt If the younc men Of Colcshll, at v
,trh- wirk,hirr, catch hare by iirrtncs-
foot early in the morning of Easter y
. dav, and carry it to the Minister be
re in ten o'rlork, he has to givetI'rma Calls h
en- hundred cggs, and groat.
H., f\roXrcArrD iINREs.-Ihe h"c"f
',a,a Ca,pbrav gives an amusing account
L,... Marty Of Intoxicated harrs. Fifteen OF t
''' creatures are said to have entered the
dom attached 20 a Gi-:illcry in the nj
.u,o horhood Of Lille, and having eaten
;. dr. bark of the hoops, or some other EuoHt
arJ saturated with alcohol, performed ex'
q foil ingly fantastic tricks, leaplng' tnm ,.
-; ~ -. and screaming in the most cXtraordl
manner. The workmcn, who were
Lor. pcsscs Of the scene, broke ont into PEI
, a.. laughter, but nothing frightened the !
duccd who had got their grog on board ana
,,,o.. full Of Dutch courage; the whole oil
', ~ wore subsequently made prisoners.