The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-12
THE LENTEN SEASON.
Origin of Customs and Observances of the
Period Of Fasting-Its Hygienic Value.

the Anglo-Saxon lencgan-tide, or lengthening
time of the year. Search for its origin as q sea-
son Of fasting and humiliation will carry one
back to the forty days deluEe, the forty years
tramp of the Hebrews in the wilderness, Moses's
fast on the mountain and Elijahs abstinence IN
the woods Careful analysis OF the code OF
Moses will demonstrate that he was one OF the
wisest lawRivers the world has ever known. he
knew perfectly well that cleanliness is next to
goodness, especially in such country as that
travelled by his followers. and, consequently,
when they settled down in Canaan they had a
code with an excellent hygienic basis, which,
however, was gradually obscured in the ceremo-
NAL and ritual born of tine rich imagination of the
East. But the remem brance of the forty days
or years remained.
Asmany of the Hebrew customs were en-
grated upon the Christian church it was natural
that when some time of self denial set
apart as a preparation of the feast of Easter, the
period of forty days should have been selected.
and as Easter came in the spring, contempora
neous with the feast of the passover. the time
In which the annual fasting was observed gave
the name to it In England. At frat Lent began
what is VOW the first Sunday in Lent-forty
days before Easter. But Sunday is never =
fast day, the six Sundays being deducted from
the weeks left but thirty ak days of fasting.
To remedy this deficiency, to the six weeks
were added four days Of the week processing,
nc some time before the beginning OF the eighth
century, and this originated Ash Wednesday.
Al first the season was rgdly observed by out
ward marks of humiliation aud by fasting. AS
the church grew in power and extended her in
huence to the uttermost parts Of Europe, adapt
ing herself to circumstances, and In many In
stances cling her festivals TO supplant or to
incorporate those of the pagan nations she con-
quered, many curious practices grew ND about
the Lenten fast.
In England this was particularly the case.
There. from the nature of the country and from
the overlapping character of its settlement. To-
cal customs grew apace and we're with difficulty
uprooted. Upon Engishmen fell the
shadow OF the spring-fast before Ash Wednes-
day. Many made il point on the proceeding
Monday TO take leave for the season of collops,
thin slices OF meat usually dried. and hence
arose the phrase Collop Monday. This custom
was typical Of fasting, and was recognized by
the butchers of Observation-Disclosures. who in
1921 entered into an agreement neither to seek
during Lent without the consent of the brother
hood. Deprived of meat people were ready TO
indulge on Shrove Tuesday, or. Fastins eve, of
those delicious preparations known as pancakes.
Shrove Tuesday has its name from the former
custom Of people making their shrift to the
parish priest a preparation for the next day.
Confessions made and the pancake bell rung,
people hurried home to feast for once In the
year upon the dyspepsia -breeding cakes, which
were of various kinds, ranging from the dough-
nut to the large fiat slice of dough steeped in
grease.
and sport. and as it was practically the close Of
the Christmas rejoicing. ir was marked by
characteristics similar TO the carnis caplum the
Roman carnival and the old Saturnaiia. One OF
the old English worthless noticed this resem-
biance and moved to write: What the
church debars one day she gives MS leave to
take out in another-first there is carnival and
then a Lent" In the midst or the general lax
ity of law and order on Pancake Tuesday, Ger
tain customs were prominent In one part OK
an English village would be seen the young girls
.of1<w Ill ~ TIAIxr oh
they had captured from the boys, who. in an
other place, were burning their Ivy Gill, stolen
from the girls This sport may have been in
tended to typify the departure of Christmas,
and was probably related to the custom of the
peasantry of France OF carrying around on Ash
Wednesday efiey and levying small sums of
money for his burial. Boys, moreover, were
accustomed to barricade the schoo-house doors
md keep The master away with their pop-guns.
4 he failed within a certain allotted time to eff
ect entrances he had agree with the boys
,pon the tasks and HOLIDAYS they would have
Turing the next year
Cock-fghtug and throwing sticks at cocks
we're special features of the observance of the
lay. The prominence given to these birds at
hat time is accounted for in several ways.
One theory is that defendants of Danes and
Saxons thus vented their feelings against the
sock whose growing on Shrove Tuesday, CEN
uries before. had prevented the Saxons from
the Danes: another contempt was
hus shown by Englishmen for their Gallo
ivals. the word galius being the Latin tor cock.
md another that men somanow or other got to
sy the blame of Peters treschery upon the
,ock that crowed twice. Chicken fighting was
openly on the commons with only the
lamentations of humanitarians as rebuke.
Jock throwing was equally unconceaied. The
Unfortunate bird, in many instances trained for
he purpose. was tied with long string to a
cost in field. The boys and idhng men by the
payment of n small fee to the owner of the bird
we're allowed the privilege of shying broom
ticks at it, which futtered about and lodged
hs missiles to the best of its ability The boy
vho Knocked down the cock it. Inspired
With the idea of throwing the village boys
Eould travel around in squads and beabor
ouse windows with sticks and stones until the
Occupants satisfied them with pancakes or
money. This sport was also called Lsnt-crock-
ng. from the pieces of crockery sometimes used
But the hustle and good humored rowdyism
4 Shroye Tuesday was abated on Ash " ednes-
lay. Among primitive Christians it
omary to spend that day in sackcloth and
shes, emblems OF humility aud grief. With
prosperity much of the austerity of the fast
one away with though the priest continued |
he custom by signing in ashes cross on the
crehead of his flock and repeating the formula, |
Remember, man, thou art dust and shalt |
urn TO dust" The remaining days of Lent were |
1arked by no particular observances, besides |
ROVER. The fourth Sunday in Lent or mid |
Ient Sunday, also known before the Re- |
'rmation in England sMothering Sunday" |
ON the habit of parlshioners in outlying dis
lets visiting then the mother church and of |
simnel cakes with their parents.
hen In Passion Week, after the distribution of
branches on RAIN SUNDAY In lieu OF pain
aves, came Maundy Thursday or Shere Thurs
ny.
IL was the custom of the King of ENGLAND to
istribute in baskets on that day aims TO GER
lin number of mendicants, and in some parts
England for the well-to-do to wash the feet
the poor. and the French word, maundier, to
e, the Anglo-Saxon, mond. a basket, aud the
attn, maDdaturn, command. named by
herert persons the basis of the word
aundy. Shere Thursday is a phrase showing |
ow a natural habit of man, il he is an English
IAN, may grow TO be national custom and inn
ress itself upon the language An old English
ritter states that Holy Thursday is thus called
here Thursday. '.for that in old fathers. days
e people would that day shere thsyr needles
I'D clypp they're berdes. and pool theyr heedes
Id so make them honest ayenst Easter day"
Good Friday was the great feast OF the year,
Id its observance was marked by special serv-
IS in the churches. and il was the only day in
= year upon which the sacrament not
essed. The custom of haliDwing rings and of
cir distribution by the KING long held sway,
I'd the sale of cross buns that dav is still
allure of English town life The hallowed |