Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-30
EASTER OBSERVANCE
Curious Customs Handed Down From
the Days of Superstition.
A CHARM FOR FLEAS In BOHEMIA.
Water in Germanys Springs Changed to
Wine ct the Midnight Hour.
RISE OF TIE GAY EASTER BONNET
rwRrrrEN FOR THz p1spArcH.l


Christmas and Easter-are survivals of
heathen rites. The very name OF Easter
preserves the memory of Ostsra or Eastre,
the Saxon goddess of the East. This point
OF the compass was sacred to the ancients,
especially among the SUM- worshipers, whose
sltars were erected on the east side of the
temple. This veneration was continued by
the early Christians, and Christ was tradi-
tionalIy buried with his feet to the East
The church was, therefore, built with the
chancel to the East, the deVout Christian
bowed toward the East when the name OF
Christ was uttered in the service, and turned
with his face eastward while repeating the
creed.
The festival of the heather goddess oc-
curing about the same time of year as that
OF the celebration of the Passover, feast
adopted by the early Christians, the cere-
monies of the heather festival were partly
transferred to the church. The celebration
of the Easter festival lasted eight days IN
the ancient church, but was restricted to
three in the eleventh century, then to two,
and finally to one, the Sunday OF joy.
The priests and clergy were wont TO tell
on this dav to arouse the ''paschal laugh, =
and make the audience more joyful The
dav was not always Sunday in early times.
The 14th day OF the Jewish first month, cor
responding to the Feast of the Passover, was
first chosen by the Eastern Church, while
the Western observed the Sunday after that
date. The latter became the rule, and lntri-
cate calculations were made to establish the
date of the movable feast, as 1t is now set
tied, particularly so that it might not fall
on the same day as the Jewish Passover. 1t
always falls between the 22d of March and
the 18th of April In 1886 it fell on the
latter date. and it will occur on the 23d OF
March in 1918, as it did in 1856 This year
it tails on April 6, next Sunday.
BoNFIREs TO EAsTRE.
Anril was known to the ancient Saxons as
Estormonath, and it is still called Oster-
monath in parts of Germany. Down to the
beginning OF the present century the god
dess Eastre was worshiped in Northern Ger
many by the kindling of bonfres and other
Joyous rites. This goddess was also the per-
sonifcation of Spring, and hence her rites
lent themselves ftly to the celebration OF
the resurrection of Christ, HkeDed thus to
the resurrection of nature from winter slum-
bers. Even the fires may be traced In early
Christian ceremonies, such as the lighting
of the "hallowed fire on Easter eve, in
London, and the illumination of the great Pas
chal tapers, weighing 300 pounds, in Rome.
The custom OF lighting these fires is still
observed IN parts of Europe. In former
days, in England, they were kindled Easter
morning, and the fires being extinguished,
are rekindled from branches brought fresh
from some grove. These were blessed and
pieces of them were sought as charms against
storms.
The priest doth halow this against great dan
A brand thereof doth everyone with greede
minde take home
That when the fearful storm appears, or tenn
By lighting this he safe may be from stroke Of
lghtnlng's harm.
In London, according to an old manu-
script, sixpence was annually paid to keep
alive the "hallowed fire" in the old church
of St. Mary-in-the-F Fields, and the ancient
documents contain references to similar OBJ
servances.
In Lechrem, Bavaria, a fire is kindled on
Easter Eve on a fiat stone in the churchyard
and every household "brings to it walnut
branch, which, after being partially burned,
is carried home to be laid on the hearthfre
during tempests as a protection against
lightning" The peasants also make gar
lands of coltsfoot and throw them into the
fire. In Scotland Easter fires were formerly
kindled, and the house fires, having been
extinguished, were relit by q brand from
these sacred fires.
THE DAY FOR EGGS.
The use of eggs on Easter is most widely
diffused over Christian countries. This is
also doubtless symbolical of the revivication
of nature in spring, and hence of the resur-
rection of Christ. The Jews also used them
at the Passover and the Persians at the fes-
tival of the Solar New Year in March, pre-
sent each other with coiored eggs. This was
as typical of the mundane egg, out of which
the world was formed, and for which Ahri-
man and Ormuzd will contend for all time.
This egg was, according to tradition, Matched
at Eastertide. The eggs used at Easter were
at first dyed in red only, in allusion to the
blood of the redemption. They were blessed
In former times, this formula or prayer oc-
curing in an old Popish ritual:
"Bless, Lord, we beseech thee, this, thy
creature OF eggs, that it may become a
wholesome sustenance to thy faithful SER
wants, eating it in thankfulness to thee, on
account of the resurrection of the Lord
Saturday before Easter is called Egg Sat
urday, or Egg Feast, in Oxford, as Easter
eggs are then provided for the students.
There is a custom in rural districts of Ger
many and France of rolling eggs down the
greensward, Just as blazing wheel or tar
barrel is rolled down the hills at May day
in honor of the sun. In some parts of Scot
land it was the custom, some years ago, for
young people to go out and search
for the eggs of wild fowl, and it was
esteemed lucky thing to find them. In
the same country it was formerly custom
for the Bishopsof Endinburgh to wash the
feet of u poor boys, who were then given
each two eggs and an orange. Bryant says
the egg is the symbol OF the ark, hence eaten
in the spring 'fwhen the waters rested"
DECORATIONS WITH FLOWERS.
It has become practice almost universal
among Protestants, as well as Catholics, to
decorate the churches with flowers on Easter
Sunday. The anemone and garden daffodil
are especially used for this purpose in
Europe in aliusion> to the Passover and
Paschal ceremonies. White flowers are
abundantiy used. and red ones also.
OF late years the practice in this country
has been to send cards to friends on Easter
as on Christmas and New Years Day. A
ceremony was observed on this day in Hert-
fordshire during the last century, which
was but a survival of a Roman custom.
This was called the corn showing. Parties
were made up to 60 into the fields and pick
the cookie from the growing wheat. Cake,
cider and toasted cheese were taken with
them, and the first lad picking the cookie
out was awarded the first kiss from a maid
and the first slice of the cakes. Ovid says,
in the "Fasti": 'Let the fields be stripped
of eve-diseaslng cookie.
The Roman cornweeding day is in May.
The cookie is the lollium of Virgil, said to
produce headache and vertigo, if mixed
with the -four in bread, Young girls in
Bavaria have the following means of
diviuation on Easter Day. They 60 at mid
night silently to a fountain, taking care to
avoid being seen. and throw into the water
little willnu rinrs ON which are written