Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-21
FROM PARIS.
SOMETHING ABOUT EASTER EGGS AND
EASTER CUSTOMS.
The Fete of the Butchers-strange Gus
toms and Peculiar Fairs-The Coco
Merchant-spring-ti time Fetes.
PARIS, March 81, 1880.


PARIS, March 27, 1880.
There has been much discussion regard
ing the origin of Easter eggs. They SIM
ply originated from the fact that for GEN.
turies it was impossible to obtain permission
from the priests to eat eggs during holy
week. This rigid observance led to the
habit of preserving eggs cooked, which
could neither be eaten or sold. They COM
menced to be colored under the reign of
Louis XIV. of France The first individ-
ual who sold red eggs was named Las
themes, who had established little stand
near one of the bridges crossing the Seine.
This innovation met with great success,
and Saint Simon tells us in his Memories
that it was the custom on Easter eve to
erect pyra 1lids of colored eggs in the cab
met of Louis XIV, who afterward pre-
sented them to his courtiers. Since that
time
EASTER EGGS
Have passed through so many stages of
perfection that they are no longer in reality
eggs, but boxes of bonbons, pieces of jew
elry, exquisite article of art, often reaching
in value to the amount of comfortable
fortune. The same as before the holidays,
when everything exposed in the shop win
dows was marked "Etrennes utiles" (use-
full holy-day presents), from simple artifi-
cial flower to hats, dresses, cloaks and
gentlemen's shirts, so now are these same
windows filled with objects not much less
important marked "Cadeaux de Paques :"
with the exception, however, that to each
object Is attached, ia some corner or other,
a little nest of straw containing two or
three sugar eggs. Many Parisians never
fail to visit the different celebrated
houses of bonbons previous to the
jour de Tan to admire the marvel
GUS and original boxes filled with
sweetmeats and destined to decorate the
boudoir of some dame la mode their
curiosity is equally excited at the time Of
Easter, for it is another occasion for an ex-
change of presents, and although the OBJ
jects are generally frivolous and fragile,
they succeed in easily emptying the purse
of the buyer. Those handsome boxes,
covered usually with different colored
satin, have on their lids nest containing
miniature eggs, which is an absolution for
the improperly one may be guilty of in
placing perhaps a necklace of diamonds
within. There are to be seen besides min
iature wagons of wood, to which are at
tached handsomely-formed horses, the
wagons being filled with quantity of
straw forming nest for the conventional
eggs, but which can well serve to hide at
the same time
A HANDSOME PIECE OF JEwELRY,
Destined to the mistress of the house,
while the horse and wagon is handed over
to the baby; then come country peasants
of different sizes and of different countries
with basket of Easter eggs ON their arm,
while there exists some secret opening in
the head through which bon bons pass into
the empty body, or even more substantial
gifts. AS may be seen, these presents can
become as costly as the buyer desires.
The more ordinary gifts, which entirely
ill the windows of all the grocery shops,
are large eggs of chocolate or different col
ored sugar, whose interior is filled with
small candies. Every child claims its
Easter egg, and considers it has been well
earned after forty days rigid fasting.
Everybody is supposed to eat certain
number of red eggs during the season, and
they are seen and served everywhere, and
are peddled in the street the same as bou-
1uets of violets and cabbage-heads. In all
the wine shops great pyramids of these
eggs may be seen which the workman calls
for at the same time as his glass of wine
The price everywhere Is two sous a piece,
so that they are within the reach of the
poor, and judging from the number which
must be consumed, it is astonishing that
all Paris does not suffer from Indigestion
Y Yesterday was Good Friday, and although
Intended exclusively to be religious fete,
,he streets were thronged with promenaders
without their prayer books, and the differ
mt conveyances leading to the country
we're crowded by families who appeared
eady for days enjoyment. Good Friday
s the
FETE OF THE BUTCHERS
And charcutiers, just as the Mi-careme is
he fete of the washerwomen. No meat
an be bought in Paris on that day for love
II money, and no one would eat meat on
hat day, if not from religious scruples at
east out of respect for the extended custom
f the country. The butchers, therefore,
nable to sell their meat, take advantage of
he occasion to have fete all to them
elves, although they do not promenade
he boeuf-gras, or choose king among their
lumber to be placed on a temporary throne
Each year on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday preceding Easter, the .foire aur
anbon takes place. This is an old, old
custom which has lost much of its origi-
lality. Before established markets existed
md the middle-man came into existence,
he good country people smoked their hams
nd sausages, and at the appointed
ime arrived in their wagons at the
,reat general market. They came from
IL parts of France, and there was
much rivalry between the different de-
,artments as to the superior quality of the
lams and the manner of smoking them.
These good country people now remain at
lome and send their smoked wares by the
ailroads to the merchants in the city,
Who replace the bronzed face of the pay
anne by the bright, intelligent features of
city saleswoman. On one of the wide
leading to the Bastile there
we're seen perhaps 200 booths trimmed
With sausages and smoked blood -puddings,
lams and pigs tongues. The scene was
'ery animated, for to each booth belonged
everal merchants, and while number re-
NAMED within to attend to the purchasers,
he rest remained outside, where at the top
If their lungs they screeched the perfection
# their wares and begged the passers-by
% come forward and taste of the sausage.
This was held in one hand, while in the
,ther was great knife with which piece
If the sausage was dexterously shaved away
or the benefit of the faster. The booths
we're small and touched each other, so that
he different voices mingled in chorus more
oud than melodious. A number of these
,riers were women who seemed not abashed
20 proclaim the virtues of pork. Here and
here small pigs composed of bladders and
lied with air danced to the breeze above
he sellers heads, and some
WORE sPECTACLEs,
With gay rosettes attached to their feet,
'thers had pipes in their mouths, while
ome were crowned with bright green