The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-04-08
EASTER.
Some Facts Worth Knowing about
this Most Ancient OF Feasts.

Some Facts Worth Knowing about
this NHost Ancient of Feasts.
Easter falls on April 9Th this year, which
Is earlier than usual 1t comes oftencst
about the middle of April, but rotates be-
tween the last of March and the last of
April. 1t is regulated by the condition Of
the moon, being always the first Sunday
after the full moon which happens upon
orneXt after the twenty-frst day of March,
and II the full moon happens upon u
Sunday. Easter day Is the Sunday after.
There has been a continual controversy in
regard to the proper time for the celelra-
tion of Easter. and as 1t is the most an
cient of the movable feasts of the Chris
tian Church, IL is also the most important,
ns It determines all the rest. The dispute
arose between the eastern and western
churches, the former contending Easter 10
| be equivalent to the Jewish Passover, and
| that therefore II should be celebrated on
the fourteenth day Of the first Jewish
month or moon. The western churches
celebrated 1t on the Sunday after thc folr.
teenth day, holding that it was the com
memoration Of the resurrection Of Jesus
! The Council Of Nice determined In favor
Of the western usage 1875 A. d.; the de-
cision has since rested in that favor, the
principal object being now to prevent
Easter from falling on the same day rs
the Jewish Passover. They did, however
occur together in 1905 and in lS1j, and will
do so again IN the years 1903, 1923, 1921
and 1881 This year, Easter. though
! happening early, will seem consistently
| late, as the season Is uncummOnl. prcc-
! cious, and the Sunday that Introduces
| the inheritance of JOY TO the Christian, the
occasion OF feasting TO he faster, III
signal Of spring TO the invalid. the oppor.
tunity of gain 10 the school-boy, tile cue OF
chdnge TO dame Fashion, the hope OF sun
shine TO Nature herself. promises TO be n
faithful harbinger Of all that Is expected
| of IT, The worship Of the Goddess Ostard
! or Easter personifying the morning or
! east, and also the opening year or spring,
4 seems to have been strictly observed In
northern Germany, whence II was brought
| into England by the SaXons. The Anglo
| Saxon name Of April was Estermonath,
and II Is still known in Germany as 0ster-
monath. SO II appears that many OF the
Easter are OF Pagan origin; they onty
| grew into religious rites through the pol
| icy Of the Church, and IL was found sim.
pie matter 10 give q Christian slgnih.
cance to Joy Mt the rising OF the natural
sun and at the awakening OF nature from
the death Of winter, since these sentiments
became synonymous with Joy ut the rising
Of the Sun OF righteousness, at the re-
surrection OF Christ from the grave. The
NJ aN 10 oil
German custom but the one most charac-
teristic 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 exchanged they are
made the foundation for aesthetic skill
from being colored with various dyes and
herbs, to being painted In artistic designs
and ornamented with silken cords and
tassels, ribbons, and even mounted into
and boxes. OF course when utilized in
this way the meat Of the egg is removed.
| While IL Is hardly necessary 10 state,
these latter devices are Of modern origin;
also the imitation OF eggs Is Of late date,
! and hardly carries out the Christian idea,
as from their point Of view the feast of
eggs" was considered emblematic Of the
resurrection and OF future life. In Scot
| land years ago Easter morning, early, was
Luc HOuI vi lnc young peOplt.
| They would start at dawn OF day In search
of wild-fowl's eggs for breakfast, and the
number found was their evidence of luck
for that year at least In Ireland they say
the sun dances on Easter morning, II You
only arise early enough 10 see IL; but II
any one ever has, the fact has not yet been
recorded. In the Tyrol Easter Is remem-
bered with every ceremony. Bands Of
musicians trayene the mountains, sing
ing the Easter hymns 10 the accom-
paniment Of the sweet gnitar. The
mentcnted with garlands and
bougets Of flowers. Crowds Of happy
children are amidst this motley gathering,
and when the darkness OF evening en-
velOps them these little ones carry lighted
torches OF pinewood and baskets OF Colored
eggs. Imagine how picturesque must be
the scene,-Swiss mountains, quaint cos.
| tunes, weird music and shadOwy lights.
| The merriment generally finishes with a
repast of eggs and wine, given 10 the
singers by the higher class Of farmers In
payment for the Joyous carols. In Ches-
ter, England, also. the Easter festivities
are of no small importance. The town IT.
self Is so old and withal so thriving
| piece OF antiquity that most Of the ancient
| customs and games are kept up Such
curious pranks rs they sometimes rcsorted
TO seem 20 the pr0snic people Of these times
almost improbable. For Instance, the Gus
tom of lifting" one, too, really In memory
| Of the Resurrection. A party Of young
Railants would carry a satin.lned chair
through the streets, into which when the
opportunity occurred they seated fair
dainsel. 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 u kiss " ench Of her turmen-
tors and paid fee besides. No rank could
save the individual from the chance of
"llfting," nor was the privilege confined
TO the male sex, Tor IL IL said that King
Edward was lifted" by certain ladies.
and that he paid 400 for the honor This
Is only one OF the many singular customs
In vogue ut Easter IN Chester.
Eggs were used for all sorts Of
games; even tho clergy could
not forego the inspiration Of the occasion,
and played ball with the eggs during
were professions with music all day long,
and the streets were a continuation OF
banners, emblems. aud crowds Of noisy
worshippers Within late years fancy Eas-
ter cards have been nlmostAs numerous and
varied rs valentines on the i4th of Feb
ruary. and some Of them are extremely
beautiful; many are pMtned In wnter
colors, others are from the firms Of Prang,
Marcus Ward, DE La Rue, etc, aud are
! gotten up In unique designs. One
| especially appropriate was In the shape OF
| large egg about ten inches In length,
colored, finely decorated, and containing
| satin ribbon. Each leaf displayed a verse
! OF poetry under six different headings,
1 "Faith,H y "Hope.o "Charity," Repent.
| anea ~ " Forulyenegsn ~ md "peace ~