The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-03-31
Our Q9liu.
EASTER CUSTOMS.

EASTER CUSTOMS,
The origin of the custom of using eggs
at Easter is ancient and Obvious. Hutch
inson, in his History of Northumber-
hnd," i" in speaking Of the paste or pasche
eggs says-"Eggs were held by the
Egyptians as a sacred emblem Of the rem
ovation of mankind after the Deluge.
The Jews adopted an egg to suit the
circumstances of their history, as q type
of their departure from the land of Egypt;
and It was used in the feast of the Pass
over as part of the furniture of the table,
with the Paschal Lamb The Christians
have certainly used it on Faster Day, as
containing the elements of future life, for
IN emblem Of the the Resurrection"
Noting that the egg was in some-wise
dyed or ornamented, he goes on to say
1T seems as if the egg was thus decorated
for religious trophy, after the days of
modification and abstinence were over,
pnd festivity had taken their place and
as an emblem Of the resurrection Of life,
as certified to us by the Resurrection
from the regions of death and the grave
mot only do We find this record of the
nse Of eggs among the practices of the
Egyptians, the ancient Israelites, and the
early Christians, but De Gebelin, in his
Religious History Of the Calendar" in
forms US that the custom of using eggs at
Easter may be traced up, not only to
the theology Of the people of Egypt, but
10 the theology aud the philosophy of the
Persians, the Gauls, the Greeks, and the
Romans, all of whom regarded the egg as
Pm emblem Of the universe, and the work
of the Supreme Divinity" EASTER says
Gebelin, "and the New Year have been
marked by the similar distinctions
Among the Persians the New Year is
looked upon as the renewal of all things,
and noted for the triumph of the Sun of
Nature, as Easter is with the Christians
for the Son of Justice, the Saviour Of the
world, over death, by his Resurrection" +"
continuing the subject, he adds The
Feast of the New year was celebrated at
the vernal equinox, that is, at 4 time when
the Christians, removing their New Year
10 the winter solstice, kept only the iesti-
val Of Easter. Hence, with the latter, the
Feast of Eggs has been attached to Easter,
30 that eggs are no longer made presents
ut the New Year" ...
The Jews, in former times, in celebra-
ting their Passover, placed on the table
two unleasened cakes and two pieces Of
lamb, to which they added few small
fishes "because of Leyiathan !" a hard egg,
because of the bird Ziz," concerning
which the rabbis entertain many fabulous
ideas, aud some meal, "because of the
Behemoth," these being, according to the
fabbinical doctors, appointed for the feast
of the elect in the other life.
From what we learn of the "Oriental
Sports of the early Christians Of Mesopo-
tamia and other Eastern countries, we
lind not only warrant for the custom of
dyeing and decorating eggs at Easter, but
for the species of gambling that somehow
came down to the younger members of
some of our churches. We find that in
NlesOpotamia, and adjacent countries pro.
Tossing the Christian religion, on Easter
DAY, and forty days aiterward, the chill
dren buy as many eggs rs they can get,
the blood of Christ, shed at the time of
His Crucifxion. One of the sports of the
season consists in the pitting of one egg
ngainst another-the egg broken in the
collision being surrendered to the owner
of the egg which made the fracture.
Father Carmeli, pious monk of the
Roman Church, in an interesting work
entitled "The History of Customs" has
left many valuable hints in reference to
what obtained among different nations in
early days of Christianity. lIe tells us
that, during Easter and the following
lays, eggs boiled hard aud painted differ
ent colors, but principally red, were the
ordinary food for the season. He says also
that in Italy, Spain, and Provence, were
hlmost every ancient superstition is relig
ously retained, there were in public places
bports with eggs-a custom which he
thinks was derived from the Jews or the
Pagans, as II was common at certain sea
tOns to both.
That the Church of Rome has, for
hany centuries, regarded the egg as an
Emblem Of the Resurrection, may be
gathered from celebrated benedction,
found, with various others, in the ritual of
Pope Paul ", who reigued from the year
COS to 1921. II reads thus :--"Bless
2 Lord We beseech thee, this Thy ,crea-
iure of eggs, that 1t may become whole
eOme sustenance to Thy faithful servants,
eating it in thankfulness to Thee, on ac-
Pount of the Resurrection of the Lord. 4"
In the ''Beehive Of the Church Of
Rome, in the list of observances, We find
nention of Easter Eggs, included with
asting Days, Years Of Grace, Differences
and Diversities of Dayes, Of Meates, of
clothing, Of Candles, Holy Ashes, Holy
Pace Eggs and Flames, Palms and Palm.
poughs, Slaves, Foolcs, HoOdes, Shelles,
end Bellies, Paxas, Ticking of Rotten
Bones, etc"
In Italy, even up to the present time on
saster-eve and yesterday, il is the Gus
,om for all the heads Of families to send
great chargers full of hard boiled eggs to
lhe church to have them blessed. This
blessing the priests perform by set prayers,
tigns OF the cross, aud sprinkling the eggs
fith holy water4-the ceremony finished,
( demanding how many dozen eggs there
Ire in the charger These blessed eggs
ihey believe have the virtue of satisfying
Pie entrails Of the body, and, therefore,
Ire the first fat Or feshy nourishment