The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-17
Easter Guatoms.

Easter Customs.
Easter obserYances grow more ana more in
popularity among us; II for no other reason
Inc paucity OF holidays would tend 10 make
Easier-ude a season OF rejoicing, for we nave
need of these breathing -spaces-the enforced
pauses in life, as some one has called Them
But perhaps il is well that the rOmpiDg and
follify that are associated with Easter IN
every country but our own have no counter
part here. We let the children color eggs
some may even gOso far as to give the young
eters an Easter party, where each receives
some little mementO Of the feast which made
our churches beautiful the day before, but
Easter Is strictly a holy festival, It's JOY that
of the very secret places Of the heart. ct
old customs should not be forgotten. so / pro
pose 20 glance at the Easter FESTIVITIES as held
y hundred years ago in different lands; IN
some, such as Russia and Jerusalem, the PIC
ture holds good for to-day.
In Moscow the streets are hlled on Easter
eve by a joyous, eXpectant crowd. The
ubiquitous boy is there in force, white-halred
pilgrims. fashiOnaby dressed mobiles jostle
peasants in sheep skin; old women and young
girls. even babies are out. AS midnight
draws near the vast crowd waits in eager eX-
pectancy, TILL" Boom, boom." tolls "lvan
fhe Great" and all the belfries respond
(annOns and guns are fired, while every one
creefe his neighbOr with. 1.-The Lord Is Tisen.'
Who responds The Lord is risen indeed"
and kisses are exchanged on each cheeh.
Think of it-for one hour and half the KISS
ing goes steadily on! From the gar Ia Tue
chanel OF the Winter Palace, who IL expected
10 Kiss all his council, generals and house
hold 10 the peasants IN the streets, all are
kissin0l Then comes The service, where each
one LIGHTS his torch or taper till the city is
blaze OF light Next comes the blessing OIL
the Easter cakes, which are placed III long
VOWS. each bearing q lighted taper. Inc
o. =
sDecial factory devoted 10 the making OF
beautifully onamented glass eggs which the
Gar sends as Easter gifts. Russians Keep
Lent most strictly, but throw of all restraint
al Faster-tide as the fresh force OF street
sweepers tesiides; for in Russia every person,
male or female, high or low, VINO IS lound
drunk has 10 sweep the streets Tor certain
number OF hours. go,
In ali the German cODfectione1s yOu viii
lind Dretty little hares displayed at Easter.
The story runs that centuries ago, when hens
were still A ninth wonder 20 some, certain
duchess introduced them into village, and
az Easter placed gayly painted eggs Ia nests;
when the children had helped prepare, In tue
woods. The children were sure mems never
laid those pretty eggs, and on one little girl
asserting she knew hare had laid them, all
took il up and children half believe the legend
IA this day. Bands of young fellows 20 from
house TO house with large baskets 10 collect
eggs for the Easter games. They DO not ask
eggs. but, while they are entertained, the good
wife sims out and puts her donation IN the
basket. Then a certain inn is chosen for the
gathering place. a strip OF smooth grass,
lew feet wide and about one hundred feet
long. is rOped in, and at either end large
shallow. rOund-DOttOmed basket Tor Wanne)
f. placed, one filled with chan, the other with
dozens ON dozens OF eggs, cooked, raw, Whlie
aud cOlOred. One player IS pitted 10 run
certain distance, While another safely throws
the eggs from one basket % the other the one
trst completing his task winning the prize.
He VINO throws the eggs Wniris them one after
another into the chaii iilleO basket held up for
him. now and then TO create diversion, he
throws n hard-bOiled egg among the children
10 be scrambled Tor. Meanwhile the other
contestant speeds 10 the distance OF a mile or
two. marks The goal as proof he has reached
A. and If he gets back before the last egg is
thrown the victory and prize are his. All
fhonrepair 10 the inn, where the raw eggs are
cooked in every conceivable way, and hours
are spent in singing, iessting and dancing.
In Poland and Hungary In country villages
and towns. Young men. carrying cOhcea'ru
pitchers Of water, prOWl around tue houses
Of their acquaintance. ana IL tbeN can caich
= glri ouf OF doors they may pour The water
over her Some take this opportunity To re-
,enra themselves for real or fancied sllghls.
Ia Jerusalem. among the ceremonies, the
Greek Bishop or Patriarch steps down INTO
the holy sepulchre az midnight. a rumpiinS
D. heard as OF distant thunder; cries OF "lne
IRE. the holy ire has fallen" are heard. ana
t1rouep AN aperture in the tomb llght is
thrust, and the pilgrims rush forward MIN
candles 10 light at The molly Name ihese
candles are soon put out and carried carefully
home TO be brought out and lat at the owner
wedding, the baptism OF beloved chilo, ia
case OF serious sickness, ana last Ol all
wastes away at the owners funeral!
Three or four hundred years ago tue clergy
o. England were expected 10 give comicai
recitations and Jokes at Easter time, aud
Easter PLAYS. something in The style of the
Passion plays. were enacted. The stage.
generally placed IN the chancel, consisted OF
three platforms one above the other; the
upperInost represented heaven, with Pope,
Cardinal or Bishop, as the INST person Of the
Trinity attended by His son and respectful
crowd OF ANGELS. The second platform WAS
Earth, and below Hell. Heaven was shabby
and Earth bare. but Hell had one great adj
vantage; between the lower anu middle plat
forms at one side WAS thrust out the head oil
an enormous dragon with wide-0pen jaws.
Prom rs throat issued flames and smoke anu
IN it6 depths tortured beings could De caught
sight Of Wri,hing in torment. Inc ulalogue
Of these plays was in Latin, ana taken
mostly from Scripture; but in the hiieenlh
century the monks OF Chester announced an
Lnglish translation. They were threatened
with condiRn punishment II they dared give
ibe common people the scriptures IN the
YlIOaF fon0.te hat thew did aud fUtue DINER