Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-27
GERMANY's EASTER GAMES.
| Ways in Which the Land OF Many Holidays
| Celebrates One of the Brightest.

Ways in Which the Land OF Many Holidays
Celebrates One of the Brightest.
From the New York Herald.
In Germany it is the Oster Hase easter rab-
bit who gives the Easter eggs and all the good
les found in the Easter nest
The nests are made in various ways-some-
times out of twigs interviewer with ivies and
those peculiar gilt and silver leaves laces and
flowers one sees nowhere else but in Germany.
Again, a pretty nest-shsped basket is chosen.
Inis, lined with bright colored silk or cambria
and the outside decorated with paper, flowers
wreaths and bows of ribbon, bits of lace and
many shining ornaments. makes a very attrac-
tive looking nest for the Easter rabbit.
Inside are a goodly number of eggs of differ
ent colors, also small sugar or cake rabbits
chocolate lambs, mice and chickens: confec-
tons OF every queer sort; cakes baked in the
shape OF pompous looking soldiers. sailors or
wood choppers: cake women with funny poke
bonnets or caps; sugar children in all sorts Of
odd or fanciful dresses; toy animals fat little
pigs and plump biddie hens with their broods
OF tiny Easter chicks-all more less elab-
orately decorated with spice, seeds and fine
sugar drops, nuts, &c. Playing marbles of
every delightful color, size and variety, are q
part OF the nests treasures, aIso books, games
and toys, II the nest happens to be large enough
Ahc SSSe dIe DOlleO q nall nOur or more
to make them very hard. then they are dropped
into solution of cochineal dye, a strong dye
giving deep red color, weaker solution pink
or light red. Blue, yellow, orange and green
In different shades are also colored by using
simple dye stuffs well heated. Sometimes the
eggs are painted in pretty fanciful designs
specially suited to please the children.
HUNTING THE EASTER NEST.
Early on Easter morning the children start
on their hunt for the Easter nest. They frolic
through the house, peeping under sofas, chairs,
tables and in odd corners. They scamper up
stairs and down; then out into the garden they
rush among hedges and grasses, climbing trees,
fences and walls in their eager search.
The child who finds it first cries ''Oster Hase
Oster Hase" Then all the children flock to
the spot, eager for peep at the pretty nest and
the cunning rabbit who sits upon it.
The finder is privileged to take the nest from
its hiding place and to distribute its contents
among the other children. Everything is la
belled with the name of the child for whom the
gift is intended, SO the division is always ami
cable. Next to Christmas and New Year Easter
is the most delightful holiday of the whole year
for the children.
The German children have many unique
games which belong exclusively to Easter.
Among them Is game of marbles, PLAYED thus:
The Easter eggs are cut off squarely, per-
haps one-thlrd of the distance from the broad
END lhey are then set up, say three or four
feet from the wall and in triangular positions.
three or four may be set at once. Sides are
chosen If there are more than two players.
Then the children roll their marbles with a
deft thud against the wall or base board. If in
the rebound a marble touches one or more OF
the eggs the same becomes the property of the
side to which the marble belongs. Then the
opposite side must 'set up" and the game il
only won when all the eggs are captured by
one side. Candy animals and cake people
who are able to stand alone are often victims
| In this war Of marbles.
Hineinwerfen (throwing in) is great game
with street boys. They buy cheap eggs, then
break the shell a. one end, removing the egg
meat. The break is large enough to admit
coins, the two pfennig piece being probably the
largest used in the game. A boy holds up an
egg, the other boys pitch, if possible their coins
through the broken shell. The player who sue
ceeds in doing this wins an additional coin from
the holder of the egg.
Egg rolling is not exclusively German. Il
Is simple amusement, but it takes its place
among other Easter games.
The children search out sharp pitch upor
the hillside. They set the eggs upon thei,
| sides and give them gentle push. Some egg
are great rollers and sharp lads know the kind
to choose for this purpose. The game is OTTER
very spirited. 1t gives plenty of exercise The
game Is not really one Of skill, but of posses
sion rather.
Beautiful Easter cards and books and hosts
OF pretty Easter souvenirs grace the shop win
dows Indeed, Germany is a land of many
holidays. Easter is one Of its brightest.