The Democratic advocate., 1875-02-06
Our Olio.
Church Festivals.

ing four Sundays before Christmas.
All Hallow, or All Saints--A festival
on the first of November, dedicated to all
the saints in general
Annunciation of Virgin Mary-A fes-
tival on the 25th Of March, in memory Of
the angels announcement, on that day, to
the Virgin Mary, that she should bear the
Messiah.
Ascension Day-The Thursday but one
before Whitsuntide, the anniversary Of
our Saviour's ascension to Heaven, after
his resurrection. Also called Holy Thurs.
day
Ash Wednesday-The first day Of Lent;
so named because Of the custom in the
Roman Catholic Church of sprinkling
ashes, that day, on the heads of penitents
in humble repentance.
Candlemas-A festival celebrated on
the % Of February, in honor of the puri-
6cation of the Virgin Mary; SO named
because Of the great number Of lights used
on that occasion.
Christmas-The festival, annually OBJ
served on the 25th of December, in mem
ory Of the birth Of our Saviour.
Corpus Christi-a festival Of the Roman
Catholic Church, kept on the Thursday
after Trinity Sunday, in honor of the
Eucharist or Lords Supper.
Easter-A festival to commemorate the
resurrection of our Saviour from the dead,
and corresponds to the Passover of the
Jews. 1t is derived from Saxon word
meaning to rise. The occurrence Of Eas-
ter Sunday regulates all the movable feasts
Of the year. 1t is always held on the
Sunday after the full moon, which imme-
diatcly succeeds the 2lst of March, the
yernal equinox. 1t cannot be earlier than
the 22d Of March, nor later than the 25th
Of April.
Embcr Days-Certain days set apart
for fasting and prayer, in each Of the four
seasons of the year. These are the We'd
nesdny, Friday and Saturday after the first
Sunday in Lent, the feast of Witsuntide,
the l4th of September, the 18th of De-
cember. The weeks in which these days
occur are called ember weeks.
Epiphany festival celebrated on the
9th of January, the 18th day after Christ.
mas, in commemoration of the appearance
of our Saviour to the magians or philoso.
pliers Of the East, who came to worship
him with presents; or to commemorate the
appearance of the star in the East to the
magians, symbolizing the manifestation of
Christ to the Gentiles.
Good Friday-A fast, commemorat ing
our Saviour's suffering and death, observed
IN Friday before Easter.
Hallow Eve-The evening preceding
All Hallow; the observance of which is
mostly confined to the Scotch.
Holy Thursday-Sec Ascension day
above.
Lent-A fast of forty days, beginning
with Ash Wednesday and continuing till
Easter, observed by some Christian
churches as commemorative of the fast Of
our Saviour.
Low sunday-The Sunday next after
Easter.
Mid Lent--The middle Of the Lenten
season.
Maund Thursday-The day preceding
Good Friday; so-callod from maund, mean
ing a basket, because on that day the King
of England distributed aims, from baskets
to certain number of poor persons
Palm Sunday-The Sunday preceding
Easter; so named in commemoration Of
our Saviour's triumphal entry into Jeru.
salem, when the multitude strewed branches
of palm trees before him.
Passion week-The week Immediately
preceding Easter; 50 named because in that
week our Saviour's passion, or suffering
and crucifxion took place.
Pentecost--A festival commemoratiae
the descent of the Holy Ghost on the
apostles Acts 2. See White Sunday.
Quadragesima-The first Sunday in
Lent, about forty days before Easter.
Quiuquagesima-Thc Sunday preeed.
ing the beginning Of Lent being about
fifty days before Easter; sometimes called
Shrove Sunday.
Rogation Days-The three days immedi.
ately preceding Ascension Day; so named
from rogation, meaning supplication, these
days being days of special supplication.
Rogation Sunday-The Sunday preced
ing Ascension.
Rogation Week-The week in which
the Rogation Days occur.
septuagesima-The third Sunday be-
fore Lent; SO named because il is seventy
days before Easter
Sexagesima-The second Sunday before
Lent, so named because il is about sixty
days before Easter.
Shrovc Tuesday--The Tuesday follow.
ing Quinquagesima, and preceding Ash
Wednesday, the first day of Lent 50 nam
ed from shrive, meaning to make confes-
sion; as II was formerly customary in
England, on this day, for the people to
confess their sins to the priest, after which
they dined on pancakes or fritters, and
the occasion became one Of msrriment.
The bell rung on this day is vulgarly cal
led pancaks-Jel, and the day itself Pan
cake Tuesday.
Trinity gundap Tba Q,nJav ,s,t !, &, =.