The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-04-20
LamoertriEle, N. y. april 90, IS
THE OLD SQUIRE ALMANAc-

Our copy Of the Almanac has bad the page
turned down very tightly at Easter, and some
how nothing could be got from its usually
willing columns, 50 We have borrowed from
another quarter something that may prove
Interesting 10 our readers, just now, about
Easter and its customs.
ABOUT EASTER IS
Easter, the festival Of the sacrifice aud
resurrecti5fi of Jesus was, IN ancieut times
aud 10 TO The nth century, celebrates vain
Vfeat pump and ceremony by all Christian pa
tl0ns, during a period OF eight days, he
iesliNa Is a movable one, eecause " mas tVs
follow tiie fun moon which happens upon or
next after the 2lsi OF March, AS was agreed,
aitep much CONTROVERSY among the early
Christians. ..as
Manndy Thursday, or Shere Thursday, the
day Immediately preceding Good Fiiday, was
occupied in preparing for Easter. Inc
churches aud affairs were washed ahd deeofat-
ed the citizens trimmed their HAIR and
boards. and bought clothes, so that they
might appear good and comedy against
Easter On thai day, in imitation Of our
Lord, kings and empefufs performed the act
of humiliation of washing the feet oil Deg.
CARS usually 10 the number corresponding 10
The years of their age. ln 1872, Elizabeth,
surrounded by her court, washed and kissed
the feet of thirty nine beggars and III 1873
it was performed by the Archbishop of York
as High Almoner. James IL was the last
English king who observed the custom in per-
SON In the Greek Church the Archbishop
washes the feet of the Apostles.
Among the ancient Easter customs was the
sscreepynge to We Cross" observed by the
sovereign and his conrt, and subsequently by
the lower classes; the Alteration OF the
cross" observed by the sovereign and his
L. tlaaI nsQa ~.
the alteration of the cross in the Roman
Church is its modern substitute. Into all
these ceremonies the giving and eating of
egrs entered largely, and the egg was accept
ed by the Christian as fitting symbol OF
future life, and by the pagan OF the reyiviica-
ton OF nature. Eggs are also served with
the pasehal lamb. In the accounts 81 he
household Of Edward is an entry, -four
hundred aud a half Of eggs, eighteen PENCE;
these were purchased for Tho purpose OF being
stained in boiling dye, or covered with leaf
gold. aud distributed in the royal household.
In many countries presents of eggs are made,
In Russia, where Easter day is devoted to the
Interchange of visits, the visitor enters the
goom with the salntation, " HE is risen;p to
which lie reply is, /. He is risen indeed Y
liz Scotland and the North of England, the
finding OF eggs on Easter day is thought to
bring luck, and the young folks diligently
search for them on moor and hills. They
are, when found, boiled in various dies, of
which the manufacture and dyeing OF cloth
in the Scottish homes has given them con-
siderable knowledge, and used by the children
as playthings. The boys III Christian Europe
had custom of challenging blow for blow
with the hard Easter egg The eggs were
struck on the open hand, and the broken one
became the prize of the breaker. The
French, who are SO clever in the creation of
delicate triles, first introduced the modern
Easter egg, made OF sugar or wax, bound by
ribbons, and filled with various pretty crea-
tions adapted to supplement- the efforts OF st.
Valentine. The Germans substituted an emu
blematical print upon which three hens were
represented holding basketin which Were
ne uuuutug vf seI'rrs~ ssttAs .i-4sA ching
them until supposed resurrection had taken
place, was another ancient custom. The
modern Greeks in their celebration of Easter
construct a snail bier aud deck it with orange
aud ctron buds, and jasmine flowers and
boughs; Il figure of the dead Christ painted
on a board is laid upon this and placed in the
church. On The succeeding day bonAres are
lighted and general rejoicugs made in honor
Of the Resurrection, aud presents of eggs are
made. A
Watching for tho sun to dance on Easter
day, was another custom, and one still prac-
tieed among the ignorant and superstiious of
Ireland, To do this the folk would rise before
tile dawn, and look earnestly for the rising
sun one writer says il is best seen by looking
upon tremuous water on which the sun
Shines Christian Union.