The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-31
A Word on Easter Eggs.
Demorext's Monthly Magazine.

Good gracious % exclaimed a hen one
morning, as she observed the China egg in
her nest, "some of these days | shall turn
into bricklayer"
But it is not of China eggs, such as may
well set hens to thinking, that we propose
to write, but of those which have been
used tremendously since the Jews began
to commemorate their deliverance from
the house of their bondage.
The Pashka, or paste egg, is literally an
egg used at the passover, and was very
likely an idea borrowed from the Egyptians,
who, in common with other nations Of
antiquity, regarded the egg as an emblem
of creative power.
There is no difficulty either in tracing
the hold the Jewish name for the Easter
eggs has obtained through so many cen
turies in our common English tongue.
Passover and Easter occur about the same
time of year. Formerly the two feasts
began on the same day, and when there
was an alteration made in the dates there
were number of Christians strong enough
to form sect known as Paschitesi who
held fxedly to the opinion that Easter
should be kept on the fourteenth day of
the moon, no matter what day of the week
that might be-
The position taken by the Paschites gave
rise to long disputes. 1t was not until
the decree of the Nicene Council that the
matter was settled by the acceptance of
Sunday, and the additional arrangement
that when the fourteenth day of the moon
fell on the first day of the week, Easter
was not to be observed until the following
week
These decrees did not effect the question
of eggs, however. They had been used by
European nations, in connection with the
new year, as symbolizing fresh start in
life, and when the date of the new year
was put back from the vernal. equinox to
the winter solstice, the Feast of Eggs was
not shifted with it, but remained part of
the unwritten rites of Easter.
The Greek Church attaches great deal
of meaning to the egg at Easter-tide.
The custom in Russia has varied very little
from what is said of it in book published
in London, in 1889, where it stated that
the Russians, Every year, against Easter,
die or color red with Brazzel Brazil wood)
a great number Of eggs, Of which every
man and woman giveth one unto the priest
of the parish Easter day in the morning.
And moreover, the common people carry
in their hands one of these red eggs, not
only upon Easter Day, but also three or
four days after, and gentlemen and gentle
women have gilded eggs, which they carry
in like manner. They use this custom,
they say, for great lore and in token of
the resurrection, whereof they rejoice.
For when two friends meete during the
Easter hollydayes they take one another by
the hand; the one of them saith, THE Lord
is risen, and the other answereth, 1T is so
of truth and then they kiss and ex-
change eggs, both men and women contin-
uing in kissing four days together.
Kissing in the Russian dominions is not
so general now as three hundred years agd,
but the eggs are still handed about and the
words of greeting are upaltered-"Christ
is risen," being met with the response, at
Is so of truth
Eggs are also exchanged tremendously
in Greece at Easter and throughout Ger
many, where, however, Easter cards. are
more used among grown-up folk, the hunt
ing of eggs through house and garden being
delight especially reserved for the chill
dren These carus have been in use among
the Germans for long time. There is
one In the British Museum which repre-
sents basket in which are three eggs, de-
corated with pictures illustrative OF the
Resurrection, all being upheld by three
hens. Over the center egg is the Ag@us
Del, with chalice, representing faith; over
the others are emblems of hope and charity,
Beneath is a legend,
AN good things three,
Therefore present you three s Esster as r,; eggs
Faith and Hope, together win Charity'
Never lose from the heart
Faith TO the church: Hope In God.
And love Him to thy DEATH"
The precise date the Easter egg found
its way into England cannot be determined,
but certainly before the time of Edward
l., for in the household expense book Of
that monarch there is this item in Latin
for Easter Sunday: "Four hundred and
a half of eggs, eighteen pence'-cheap
enough certainly, and contrast to the
price at the present time.
Some of the superstitious rites pertaining
to the egg at this season are retained in
various parts of the country, but divested,
of course, of the peculiar significance which
were attached to them in the days prior to
these days of compulsory education. Egg
rolling, which was formerly indulged in
under the notion that the farm lands on
which it was practiced would be sure to
yield abuudantly at harvest time. has now
become sport.
The very coloring of the eggs has now
an artistic meaning only; formerly it was a
sacred sign. Easter eggs are no longer
thought to be good for ailments; nobody
preserves them as charms; it is no longer
supposed that eggs laid on Easter Day will
keep fresh longer or will result in fowls of
the choicest kind. Yet it cannot be said
that the interest has diminished with the
more practical view We now take of old
customs.
Eggs continue to be stained very much
as they were centuries ago, and the gliding,
which is as ancient, at least, as Greek my
thology, is also kept up, while, though the
sacred and mysterious meaning which
formerly invested them belong to an age
when the common people had no literature,
and peasant who could read was a prodigy,
vet the Christian heart must ever feel a
fresh springing of the heart with the COM
ing of that day of days which commemo-
rates the resurrection of the Lord Of Lords
and King of Kings:
Something About Easter
rh;s uaa,. Eastar will ell ON the lst of