The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-03-26
miscellaneous.
For the -Egis d. Ht,RiqfHCa,.
M ARCH
RI 4 VI. HASCOCT.
No. I'll.

EASTER.
Many curious and beautiful customs cluster
| around the Easter Season. which had theil
origin 50 far back in the past that it would ht
difficult 10 determine under what system o
| religion or ny what race originated. The
| dyeing of eggs is older than the Christian
| religion. The ancient Pcrsians kept feast
in March, during which the presenting OF
colorcd eggs 10 each other was Il common
practice And as it will he seen when we treat
of the Passover feast hard boiled eggs formed
Il part OF the Passover meal And for ages it
| has been the most popular custom among
Christians at Eastertdr In Scotland young
people went hunting for the eggs of wild
| fowls on Easter morning, and good luck at.
| tended those who found them the ensuing
| year.
An eminent writer says: "Thrrc can be
little doubt that the use of eggs at this season
was originally symbolical Of the identification
of naturc-thc springing forth Of life in
spring"
From the Christian point of view" says
another writer, " this Feast Of Eggs has been
usually considered as cmblcmatic Of the rcsur-
rection and of future life"
In Spain all the children have lambs decor
ated with ribbons and flowers, which they lead
through the streets on Easter Sunday, in
memory of the slain Lamb of God.
One of the funny Easter customs common
in part of England is that of lifting
On Easter Monday the men indulge the ridi-
culous custom of "lifting" the women; and
on Easter Tuesday the women lift the
men. This is done by locking hands and
forcing the person to be Gifted to mount
thereon, when he or she, as the case may be,
is lifted as high as possible two OF three times
and then "heaved" away The story is told
of Il very staid clergyman who had occasion
to stop at an inn for a short time on an Easter
Tuesday, in Lancashire, was completely
thrown off his balance by several stout, robust
women, who invaded his room and informed
him that they had come to :" lift him."
"To lift me-" said the astonishcd priest
"why what do you mean?'
"Why your reverence, we've come TO lift
YOU cause it's Easter Tuesday"
"Lift me because its Easter Tuesday? ]
don't understand. Is there any such custom
here"
Yes, to he sure why don't you know p
All us women was lifted yesterday; and us
lifts the men to-day in turn. And in course
its our rights and duties to lift EN-"
His reverence not rclishing the idea, com
promised with his visitors by giving them
half Il crown, and without delay shook the
dust of that village off his feet forever.
In some parishes men claim the privilege OF
taking off the women's shoes on Easter Mon
day, and the women enjoy the right of taking
off the mems shoes on Easter Tuesday. Play.
ing at football in the churches for tansy-cake,
was an irreverent custom, now happily done
away with. Tansy cake and tansy pudding
are still Easter dishes in great favor in
England. In some parts of England the
parish clerks still carry cakes to every house
as Easter offerings. From n very ancient
date clown to within the memory of men
still living" in the parish of Biddcnden these
cakes were distributed among the poor on
Easter Sunday afternoon Two ancient
maidens, joined together in the Siamcsc twins
fashion, named Preston, left twenty acres OF
| land, the income of which was 10 be devoted
| to the purchase of the cakes for distribution
| The images of two women were impressed on
| each cake,
The good people all of the old city
of Chester headed by the Mayor, arraycd in
| official robes with mace, sword and cap OF
maintenance, assembled on the Rood-eye
Meadow for game of football on Easter
Monday. The shocmakcrs guild from time
mmemorial presented the ball used. The
| women had their game of bali also. Archery
practice was another Easter Monday pastmo
| in Chescr-the bridegroom of the year pro
| vidng the reward of n silver arrow for tn,
| best shot.
Brand, in his history of New Castle, says
that King Edward Ill, accompanied by the
| Queen, visited Durham nj Easter, in 1881, ant
lodged with the prior of the Abbey. After
supper the royal pair retired, hut they WERE
soon disturbed by II monk, who told the King
that st. Cuthhcrl, their Patron Saint, did moi
relish the society of women, whcreupon The
Queen arose hastily dressed herself and trudg
ed back to the Castle, begging the Saints par
don for the crime she had committed against
HIM
THE JEWISH PASSOVER.
The Passover feast of the Jews, which,
believe, occurs March 2ith this year, com
mcmoratcs "thc flight of the lSracilcs from
Egypt with their kncading troughs upon thcir
shoulders" Where this feast is now kept
great preparations are made for it. The YES
sells used in preparing for it, or during its cclc
bration, have an extra cleaning. The cup.
are secured and boiled in watcr "thc floors
are washed and sprinkled with red and yellow
sand the Passover cakes are kneaded by
robust girls on immense tables near the fam
ing stove, and shining tin plates are ranged
by dozens on shelves, to be used only at tho
Passover. White curtains adorn every win
dow, the seven branched lamp is brought out
the mtsract, a piece ofpaper on which tie wore
East, is written, is relramed and hung on the
side of the room toward Jerusalem, in which
direction they turn at prayer; the raised soft
on which the master of the house passes the
first two nights is fitted with cushions" Or
the morning of the feast the I&hulek!0W6i
summons the faithful to prayerb by three lout
knocks on the door of each house. After the
service is over the people return to their re
spcctivc houses and partake Of the feast of un
leavened bread This is accompanied will
prayers and thanksgiving for the release o
the Israclites from Egyptian bondage Eacl
plate has laid on it copy of the Haggada, ,
book containing the chants and prayers uset
during thef feast, printed in the Hebrew tongue
with Illustrations Of the flight from Egypt
The head of the family occupies the seat al
| the head ofthe table, the motherand daughter