Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-27

2Sth earlier In fact than usual: as since 1875
when # On March 20 e lsC
oftenest about the middle Of April It Is regu-
lated by the condition OF the moon, being
always the first Sunday after the full moon
which happens upon or next after the twenty
first day Of March, and If the full moon happen
upon Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after.
There has been continual controversy In re-
Easter, and as 1t is the most ancient of the
movable feasts Of the Christian Church 1t is
also the most important, as it determines all the
western the
Easter to be equivalent to the Jewish Passover;
and that therefore It should be celebrated on the
fourteenth day Of the Jewish month or moon
The Western churches celebrated 1t on the Sun
day after the fourteenth day, holding that 1t
was the commemoration OF the resurrection of
Jesus. The Council OF Nice determined In favor
has since rested in that favor, the principal OBJ
Ject being now to prevent Easter from falling
on the same day as the Jewish Passover. They
dd however occur together IN lso5 and and ls 49,
and 1881.
This year, Easter, though happening early,
will seem consistently late, as the season Is I'M
commonly precoc1ous, and the approaching
Sunday, the day thatintroduces the inheritance
OF Joy to the Christian, the occasion of feasting
to the faster, the signal OF spring to the invalid,
cue OF change to dame fashion, the hope of sun
shine to nature herself, promises to be faith
ful harbinger of all that Is expected Of it.
The worship OF the Goddess Ostard or Easter,
opening year OF spring, seems to have been
strictly observed in Northern Germany, whence
it was brought into England by the saxons.
monath, and it is still known in Germany as
Ostermonath. SO 1t appears that many Of the
popular obServanceS connected with Easter are
% ous p Sogg6 my o Sn q ge nS reg
it was found a simple matter to give Christian
significance to Joy at the rising of the natural
sun and at the awakening of nature from the
death of winter, since these sentiments became
synonymous with joy at the rising of the Sun Of
Righteousness, at the resurrection of Christ from
the grave.
German custom; but the one most Characteristic
and widely known is the use of the Easter eggs,
used in many ways. They are eaten, games
are played with them. presents of them are ex-
changed; they are made the foundation for
aesthetic skill from being colored with various
dyes and herbs, to being painted in artistic de-
signs and Ornamented with silken cords and
taSSelS ribbons, and even mounted into jewel
receptacles, cabinet ornament, and boxes. OF
course when utilized in this way the meat of
the egg Is removed. While 1t is hardly neces-
sary to state, these latter devices are OF modern
date, and hardly carries out the Christian idea,
as from their point of view the feast of eggs
was considered emblemat1c of the resurrection
and Of future life. In Scotland years ago
Easter morning, early, was the hour of frolic
for the young people. They would start at
dawn of day In search of wild-fowls eggs for
breakfast, and the number found was their evil
dence of luck for that year at least. In Ireland
they say the sun dances on Easter morning, il
you only rise early enough to see it; but if any
one ever has, the fact has not yet been recorded.
In the TyrOl Easter is remembered with every
ceremony. Bands of musicians traverse the
mountains, singing the Easter hymns to the
accompaniment OF the sweet guitar. The
natives wear Spanish hats. ornamental with
parl3n0S h0Un1fS
happy children are amidst this motley gather
ing, and when the darkness of evening envelops
them these little ones carry lighted torches of
pine wood and baskets of coloreG eggs. Imagine
how picturesque must be the Scene,-SWiSs
mountains quaint costumes weird music and
shadoWy lights. The merrtment generally flu
the singers by the higher classes Of farmers in
payment for their Joyous carols In Chester,
England, ALSO the Easter festivities are Of no
small importance The town Itself Is 50 old and
most Of the ancient customs and games are
kept up. Such curious FRANKS as they some
times resorted to seem to the prosaic people
OF these times almost improbable. For in
stance, the custom Of "lifting." one, too, really
In memory Of the Resurrection. A party OF
young gallants would carry satin-lined chair
tunity occurred they seated fair damsel
lifted her as high In the air as the ability OF the
young men would allow, nor was their precious
burden released until she donated kiss to each
rank could save the individual from the chance
of "lifung," nor was the privilege confined to
the male sex, for 1t is said that King Edward
was Gifted" by certain ladies, and that he paid
e4OO for the honor. This is only one Of the
many singular customs In vogue at Easter In
Chester. Eggs were used for all sorts OF games
even the clergy could not forego the inspiration
of the occasion, and played ball with the egg IS
during church service, dancing the while. There
were professions with music all day long, and
the streets were continuation OF banners, EN-.
blemS and crowds OF noisy Worshippers. For.
ney0PrOgreSs.