The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-04-22

Wnen all would rush away TO glfd
about another church. There were
| also the spectacular dramas ON Easter
Sunday in churches, where Mary Mag
delene, Mary of Bethany, and Mary
OF Main, were represented by priests,
| and before tomb erected beside the
| church at some fabulous price, the
drama of the Resurrection was played,
Christ and Mary talking together.
There were also in England those
strange observances called lifting and
heaving, survivals, without doubt, of
the passion plays of those days. Ac-
cording to these, on Easter Monday
men were entitled to lift any woman
they met, and the women on Tues
day were entitled to lift any
man. Originally designed to repre-
sent our Saviour's Resurrection. says
a book of 1874, zone or more take hold
of each leg, and one or more of each
arm near the body, and lift the body
in horizontal position three times :"
This lifting three times had reference
to the Resurrection after three days.
But the magistrates and bellmen in
terfered with a custom greatly abused
and one that degenerated into a
money-making proceeding So in
1899, at Shrewsbury, the affair was
managed with great decorum. A
visitor at the Talbot was surprised by
the entrance of all the female servants
of the inn, carrying chair lined with
white and decorated with ribbons and
favors of different colors. In this he
was made to sit, and being "lifted'' or
''heaved," the chair turned, the privi-
lege was his, ON alighting, of saluting
each of the maids in turn The fur
ther privilege of giving each fee was
also his. Women of the lower classes
took possession of the tables at the
inns on that day, being absolute sover-
eigns, and compelling men to pay
them what fees they chose.
The use of eggs for Easter can be
traced, says Count de Gebelin, in his
Religious History Of the Calendar to
the theology and philosophy of the
Egyptians, Perslans, Gauls, Greeks,
and Romans, among all of whom an
egg was symbol of the universe, the
work OF the supreme divinity. The
Persians gave presents of eggs at the
feast of the New Year. e., the feast
of the vernal equinox-in honor of the
renewal of all things. 1.-THE Egyptians
held the egg as sacred emblem of
the renovation of mankind after the
deluge. The Jews adopted it to suit
the circumstances of their history, as
type of their departure from Egypt,
and it was used in the feast of the
Passover as part of the furniture of
the table with the Paschal lamb.
The early Druids used the egg in their
ceremonies.
In Russia one man greets another
on Easter with Jesus Christ is risen"
Eyes, He is risen," reply is made and
then an egg is given. In Moscow no
meeting. takes place without this
salutation and exchange. ''The
meanest pauper in the street present
ing an egg and repeating the words
'Christos Voscrees' may demand a
salute even of the Empress" In some
countries of Italy eggs are carried to the
church to be blessed, and then taken
home and set out with flowers on the
table. Every visitor during Easter
week is invited to eat an Easter egg,
an invitation which must not be re-
fused. Eggs in all countries are sent
as tokens at this time, and enter into
the sentiments and pastimes of old
and young alike.
Among the superstitions in regard
to the season are these Something
new about the dress must be worn at
Easter, else no luck follows. No fish
must be eaten on that day, else fever
will follow all the year.
Flowers are used as decorative en-
blems because they have just risen,
having been buried during the severity
of winter. The fire must be put out,
and green rushes brought, and there
must be light, light, light everywhere,
and gladness in every heart. Flowers
are worn or carried, are bestowed as
gifts, and masses of flowers beautify
tho ohurchac