Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-18
EASTEis.
The Day aud Its ui.toiy.

Tomorrow occurs the great festival OF
the church. Easter the Christian pass
over and festival of the resurrection Of
Christ. The English name is probably
derived from that of the Teutonic god
dess of spring, Ostera or Eustre, whose
festival occurred about the same time of the
year as the celebration of Easter. Both
the Eastern and Western churches from
the beginning distinguished u two-fold
event in the Easter commemoration, the
staying of "the Lamb of God" and his
resurrection and the distinction between
the day Oh which Christ died and that on
which he roe again. had not little to do
with the Easter controversy in the early
church, originating in difference of
custom with regard to the day Of the
week and the day Of the month on which
Easter should be celebrated AS the
Christian held that Christ, tho true pas
chal lamb, had been slain on the very day
when the Jews in celebration of their
passover inundated the fgurative lamb
so, both in the West and in the East
those who believed the Christian passo-
YER to be II commemoration Of Christ's
death adhered to the custom of holding
the Jewish fcstivity on the day prescrib-
Jews celebrated their passover on the
14th day of the first month"; that is, the
lunar month of which the 14.h day either
falls on, or next follows the day of the
vernal equinox, all Christians who persis-
ted in following this custom in the celeb
ration of Easter, came to be called quarto-
decenaus or fourteenth dnv men" or
still more opprobiously, Judaizing Christ
lans
Constantine had the subject Of Easter
brought before the council Of Nice, Ill 325
and the question was fully discussed and
finally settled by adopting the rule
which makes Easter day to be always the
first Sunday after the full moon which
happens upon or next after March u !;
and if the full moon happen on a Sun
day, Easter day is the Sunday after. BY
this arrangement Easter may come as
early as March ODD, or as late as April
25th. In France, from the 10Th century
up to 1864, when Charles TX fixed Jan
nary LIST as the first day. the year began
with Easter. This sacred festival, which
has been observed from the very begin
ming, and is celebrated in every part of
the Christian world with great solemnity
and devotion, has been termed the queen
of festivals. Formerly the churches
were ornamented with large wax candles,
and the Christians saluted each other
with kiss and the words, "Christ is ris-
en-" to which the response was made,
HE is risen indeed" This custom is
still retained in the Greek Church, par
tcularly in Russia. The day before East
cr Sunday, or Holy Saturday, has ever
been set apart rs IL day for specially
solemnizing baptism. Courts OF justice
were closed aims were distributed,
slaves were freed and the people gave
themselves mp to enjoyment and feasting.
In nearly all Christian countries the re-
currence of Easter is celebrated with va
rious ceremonies and popular sports and
observances. Among the best known is
the custom Of making presents Of colored
eggs called pasch or pace eggs, which are
often deliberately ornamented. In some
parts Of Ireland the legend is current that
the sun dances in the sky on Easter Sun
day morning, and it was once preva
lent superstition in England also. Sill
John Sucking. in his charming ballad.
"Upon.a Wedding" thus makes use of thi'
superstition
Her feet beneath her pettlcedt
Like little nice stole in and Oat,
ASH thy feared the light
But oh, he dances such "A way
No sun upon an Eiserd day
Is haf so lin" a sight"