The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-23
TIE PASSOVER FEsr1vAL.-Last even

TIE PASSOVER FEsr1vAL.-Last even
ing at shutdown the Jewish passover
called Pesach, commenced. 1t contin-
ues until the Both at shutdown. On &C.
count OF the Hebrew leap year. which
takes an additional month, it occurs
later the present year than usual. This
feast. in commemoration of 1sraels de-
liverspce from the Egyptian yoke is
YEARLY celebrated by all orthodox Jews
with impressive ceremonies. On the
day previous to the commencement OF
the Passover all leavcn IS with the
,rso,est care removed from the house,
end in it's stead the unleaveued cakes
(maizes) substituted. ...s.....
This festival is il the law command,
sd to be held seven days. the first and
last of which are, by Biblical injunc.
tiop, to be kept sacred, and the inter
mediate days alluded to to be employed
in necessary occupations, although still
regarded as holy days. In the distant
provinces, however, where the usual
proclamation OF the Sanhedrim Of the
exec. day OF the incoming OF festival
could or did not reach, the lsraeIites
doubted the day Of holy convocation
and kept two instead OF one, go that
following for the difference OF time
between countries far off from Pales
tine), they were sure to be keeping the
true day of twen,y-'our hours within
the fortv-eight hours which they did
keep. This custom is still kept UP
among a. large number Of Jews, there
being some, however, who keep but one
day, and this is the reason why Jews
distant from the Holy Land keep two
DAYS to a festival, while in that land
itself but one is kept.
During the festival all articles pro
duced by the fermentation of grain
such az bread, beer, spirits, etc, are not
only excluded from the dwelling, but
scru pulously abstained from. and all
household utensils are thoroughly
cleaused from any impurity occasioneI
by the admixture of leaven.
The prayers and ceremonies adapted
for the celebration of this period Of
Jewish emancipation are, Of course, ap'
propriate; but the most impressive
ceremony attached to this occasion, is
in the assemblage Of families on the first
two evenings Of the feast to repeat a
collection OF narratives, Talmudc ex-
tracts, praises and blessings purposely
complied to commemorate the event
of the delivery from Egyptian slavery
1t is the custom of these occasions thai
all domestics and dependents OF the
family, Of the Jewish faith, participate
with them at the board.
On the 10Th Of Nissan, during the
time of the temple, q sheaf of ripening
grain was offered at the alter.
During the month OF Nissan, the
course OF the sun is through the con
stellatiou Aries.
From the two facts just mentioned II
would seem as if the neurological
Ceres" owed her existence to the old
Jewish custom of the sbeaf offering
which doubtless existed long prior tc
the temple, for it was this goddess who
was said to have revoked the curse
which was pronounced upon the earth
and restored it to life and fertility" the
curse being no more than icy bands o.
winter
This, too, is the first jewish festival
following the winter, and is the head Of
the JEWS ecclesiastical year.
The other fact is that the embIems Of
the first of the twelve signs OF tho
Zodiac is ram, Aries, and the time
OF the year when the sun enters said
sign is on the 2lst of March, the com
mcnccmcnt ofthe vernal equinox. Thus
here again may be seen a resemblance
the "Passovcr" or "Paschal season
being that, while the sun is in Aries,
aud before he enters Taurus, lamE
was the special animal sacrificed al
this peculiar season, and the Hebrew
word from which the Hebrew title o
the festival comes means the Pascha!
iamh.