The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29
THE QUEEN OF FEASTS.
r4STER AND ITS OBSERVASOE IN
TfRLY Days.

Customs OF Various Peoples and Nations on
the Joyous Occasion aunday Thursday
and Good Friday-society Events During
he Fast Week.
From tho earliest period Of Christianity
down O. the present dav Easter has been cele-
brated by believers with the greatest JOY as
the Queen Of Festivals. Though there has
newer been any difference Of opinion in the
Christian Church rs 10 how the festival should
bo kept in a religious aspect. there has been "A
good deal of dispute Us to when it should be
kept Tha, question, however has been long
ago decided. and the modes of observance have
become almost circumscribed TO those Of a re-
hgious character, the ancient obserNances
having been curious. and in some instances
superstihous and amusing
rHT CREEK CHURCH
ono custom which still obtains in the Greek
Church is that If rising early ou Easter morn
iug and walking by hundreds IN the fields 10
soe The sun dance, which. as ancient tradition
mas it. the sun always does on that day On
Lastar sunday. too. II was o custom for The
vour. mon of the village totake oil tho young
women IS shoe buckles. and Ca Easter Monday
H. ,onpr mems shoes and buckles wore talcn
of B., thc Young women. ON Tuesday tAey
were redeemed 10y lituop ccuniary forieits. ont
(which au entertainment % dancing and IT,
treatments was given. called Ioiusy Cake.
which was looked forward 90 wlth pleasure al
T6o rvrolese keep the festival Of Easter in
many picturesque and beautiful ways. Bands
Of musicians. for which they are ever noted,
tratersa the mountains and valleys Singing
4f...r t..f I'd ham
Calling out the people to Their doors. they eN-
pocts them 10 join IN thor chorusos,- he
Lord Is risen. answered 10y Tie Us risen in-
decd. thus together they rejoice ma the glad
anniversary. Crowds of children accompany
them bearing torches of fine wood aud the
GOOD wives have tine Paschal egg ready, dyed
In brightest c0loTs with notices Of all kinds
upon Them and they aye freely put into their
baskets and tho singers return tothclr carols,
Tho Lord He IS Risen Risen Indeed"
TIE SYMBOLIC Zoo.
The custom Of giving eggs and II dying or
1-uamcutiug them at Easter is one of the old
est known. il Is even asserted that eggs were
held by the Egyptians as sacred emblem OF
fl. renovation Of mankind after the d"lugc.
The Jews adopted 10 as type Of their de-
plr,ure from the land of Egypt, and 1t WAS
r-d Id the feast If the Passover as part of
N- furniture Of the table with the Faschal
lamb. -
INn ltr-laDS. II IS Sall, keep INC @Vlu Oh
March JOS the festival of the solar New Year.
ggt...Ir presenting colored and ornamental
eggs ln certain localities IN England there
.an rarfII4r sport at Easter. which consists 81
.tr.b.n. eggs against each othcr, and the egg
thai fr-t breaks Is won by the owner of the
rcrtlat struck IT, The young people OF the
VILLAGES spend the days of tne festival ON the
streets pursuing this sport with uniiaglns In
.erc.t
In book Of ancient customs we read
lat j. was customary IN italy for heads al
families To- send large plattcrS hl.ea with t@-s
1u Easter day to he blessed 10y the rope ana
sometimes twenty dozen I'D charger was a
gery fair show. with tie shells Of them all
painted IN divers colors and GIT neatly la1d
torother lu the form of "a pyramid
The lathe continued id the same posture all
the Easter week. and 49, visiting was general,
al who came to visit were invited 10 eat an
Easter egg" with them. which. as token OF
friendship, they could not refuse.
HOLY SATURDAY.
ON Faster Eve one Of the customs was 10
put ont all the fires In the churches and Nndle
Them anew with flint, OF new IRE, as il was
,alled.
An the fires II the city were hudicl from
his new flame. and the ceremony is described
by au ancient poet IN the lines.
AT Easter Eve, the fire is al quencht in every
And ffesh again from out the Clint is fochte with
solemn grace.
The priest doth haliow this against great dan
A BRAND rhareof doth every man with greedie
mind. take home"
GOOD FRIDAY.
in London. and oil over England. Good
Friday Is ushercd in with the cry of Hot
Cross Buns" and o batch of them appears
np3u every breakfast table 1t is rather
small bun usually spiced and having its
brown sugary surface marked with q cross.
The street vendors. poor children. and old
men and women cry at every corner and
along the streets. the same old song with
which every student Of Mother Gooses melo-
dies Is familiar.
zone penny buns,
Two penny buns,
One penny, two penny,
Hot cross buns
III ..-,..:c .o,..., 20 4l,i1 ,.ctorn hoe several