Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-09
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EASTER.
SOME FACTS WORTH HNOFING ABOUT THIS
MOST ANCIENT OF FEASTS.

EASTER.
SOME FACTS WORTH ENJOYING ABOUT THIS
MOST ANCIENT OF FEASTs.
Easter fell on last Sunday, the 9Th of
April, this year, which is earlier than usual.
1t comes oftenest about the middle of April,
but rotates between 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 hap
pens upon or next after the tWenty-first day
upon Sunday-Easter day is the Sunday
after. There has been a continual contro-
versy in regard to the proper time for the
celebration of Easter, and as it is the most
ancient of the movable feasts of the Christian
Church, it is also the most important, as it
determines all the rest. The dispute arose
between the eastern and western churches,
the former contending Easter to be equiva-
lent to the Jewish Passover, and that there
fore it should be celebrated on the four
teenth day of the first Jewish month or
moon. The western churches celebrated it
on the Sunday after the fourteenth day,
holding that it was the commenOration of
the resurrection of Jesus. The Council of
Nice determined in favor Of the western
usage 1925 A. d.; the decision has since
rested in that favor, the principal object
being now to prevent Faster from falling
on the same day as the Jewish Passover.
They did, however occur together in 1913
and in 1925, and will do so again in the years,
1903, 1923, 1927 and 1881. This year, East
er, though happening early, will seem con-
sistently late, as the season is uncommonly
precocious, and the Sunday that introduces
the inheritance of joy to the Christian, the
occasion of feasting to the faster, the signal
of spring to the invalid, the opportunity of
gain to the school-boy, the cue of change to
dame Fashion, the hope of sunshine to Ma
ture herself, promises to be a faithful har-
! binger, 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, seems to have
been strictly observed in northern Germany,
whence it was brought into England by the
Saxons. The Anglo-SaXon name of April
was Eastermonath, and it is still known in
Germany as Ostermonath. So it appears
that many of the popular observances con-
nected with Easter are of Pagan origin {;
they only grew into religious rites through
the policy of the Church, and it was found
a simple matter to give Christian signiti-
canoe to joy at the rising of the natural sun
and at the awakening of nature from the
became Synonymous with joy at the rising
of the Sun of Righteousness, at the resur-
rection of Christ from the grave. The
kindling of bonfires at Easter is an old Ger
man custom; but the one most characteris-
tic and widely known is the use of the
Easter eggs, used in many ways They are
eaten, games are played with them, pre-
sents 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 or
| fol xt,;fh faSSlIS
ribbons, and even mounted into jewel re-
ceptacles, cabinet ornaments, and boxes.
Of course when utilized in this way the
meat of eggs is removed.
While it is hardly necessary to state that
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 a future life. In Scot
land 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 evidence of luck
for that year at least. In Ireland they say
the sun dances on Easter morning, if you
only arise early enough to see it; but If
any one ever has the fact has not yet been
recorded. In the Tyrol Easter is remem-
bered with every ceremony. Bands OF
musicians traverse the mountains, singing
the Easter hymns to the accompaniment or
the sweet guitar. The natives wear Span
ish hats, Ornamented with garlands and
bouquets of flowers. Crowds Of happy
children are amidst this motley gathering,
and when the darkness of evening en-
velopes 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 to 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 GUS
toms and games are kept up. Such cur
ious pranks as they sometimes resorted to
seem to the prosaic people of these times
almost improbable. For instance, the GUS
tom Of ''lifting," one, too, really in men,
gallants would carry satin-lined chair
through the streets, into which, when the
opportunity 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 a kiss to each Of her tor
mentors and paid fee besides. No rank
could save the individual from the chance of
"liftng," nor was the privilege confined
to the male sex, for it is said that King
Edward l. was ''lifted' by certain ladies,
and that he paid f40O 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 eggs during
church service, dancing the while. There
were professions with music all day long,
and the streets were continuation of BAN
ners, emblems, and crowds Of noisy wOr-
shippers. Within late years fancy Easter
cards have been almost as numerous and
varied as valentines on the 18th of Feb
ruary, and some of them are extremely
beautiful; many are painted in water COL
ors, others are from the firms of Prang,
Marcus Ward, De La Rue, ETC., and are
gotten up in unique designs. One especial
" appropriate was in the shape of large
egg about ten inches in length, colOred, fine
ly decorated, and containing siX. leaves tied
with delicate shades of satin ribbon. Each
leaf displayed verse of poety under six
different headings, ,"Faith, ""Hope, ,""Char-
ity," Repentance" forgiveness" and
"Peace." Another was card simply, but so
eXqusitely tinted as to be almost an object
of art. The subject was q group of ruddy-
faced cherubs supporting huge egg, the
whole being drawn by ribbon-relgned
lamb. Others there are of dainty flowers,
nested eggs, emblematic devices, all sug-
gesting some suitable sentiment in a we'll
selected verse Others are merely egg