The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1893-04-01

comes joy at the rising of the Son o
Righteousness and ut the resurrection
of Christ from the grave. The bon
fires of Pagan MYSTICISM can still
be seen in the great Paschal taper:
lighted iii the churches on Easter eve
Rude and rough have been many
of the popular observances Of thi,
feast day, yet in each may be traced
more or less of significance and rela-
ton to the fundamental idea of resur-
rection from the dead, or rising into
life. The old custom of lifting
practiced in many parts Of Germany
and England is of this character. On
Easter Monday the men Of the com
munity would parade the streets, aud
upon meeting any Woman would un.
tremendously set her upon their
crossed and locked hands and lift
her three times from the ground. On
the following Tuesday, Easter Tues
day, the women would. return the
compliment. A modification Of this
usage is retained in some localities,
where the men claim the privilege of
taking off the women's shoes, the fol-
lowing day themselves submitting to
the same attack. A more prominent
observance of the day, however, has
always consisted in the interchange of
presents of some significant meaning,
this practice finally evolving into
about the only custom which still re.
mains Of any particular nature,
namely, that Of the exchange Of Eas-
ter eggs.
Another custom which has grown
in popular favor very rapidly Of late
years is the exchange of Easter cards
and souvenirs, until at the present
time Easter cards can be purchased
in the larger cities of our country
--A-aze magni6ciant- -wA.h---~s-urs5
some OF them costing u high a. $50
and 500 each. This cnstom-the
exchange of cards-is = very sensible
one, as it furnishes q sourvenir Of
each passing Easter, and in after life
recalls to its owner days long past, and
brings back fond recollect,oqs of the
spring time Of life, when the heart
was opening out like the flowers OF
spring.
The most characteristic rite and the
one most widely diffused is the use of
Pasch eggs. Pasch-variously spelled
pace, pasche. pask-are merely haru.
boiled eggs. to the shell of which has
been given some characteristic color
or tint. The custom of presenting
Easter eggs one to another became
very popular among Christians soms
500 years ago. An egg being the
most concentrated (if we may use the
term) form Of life, and easily under.
stood as showing the quickening OF
life under the influence Of warmth.
was naturally considered a. symbol.
Cal of the resurrection and of the
Of life. Probably the fir,t,
color impaired to the she'll was red, in
to the blood of the redsmp-
ton. Subsequently, however, sd-
vanced intelligence, recognizing NO
material significance in single color,
found pleasing relief in . variety Of
shades, and this variety meets uni
versal appreciation in the present day.
Originally the eggs were blown BE-
fore the shell was colored, because.
owing. to the nature Of the dves used.
The interior was rendered absolutely
unfit for food and unsafe but meth
ids were early devised for colorinp
and dyeing eggs which were unob-
jectionable. The eggs were boiled
very hard in water colored red, blue
Or violet, and upon them were in
'cribed landscapes or notices of per-
tinent application. An old country
application was to boil the egg q few
and then with the end Of =
allow candle inscribe upon it the de-.
'ired name, date. etc., the warmth Of
he egg rendering this operation very
Easy. Then, upon placing the egg in
| second bath Of hot water, coiorsd
he desired tint, the she'll is quickly
lyed, with the exception of the Do
ign, which is protected BY the coat..
ng Of tallow. The, same effect can
70 obtained by dYeing the egg =
old color and then scraping of the
lye to form the design. Formelv
he eggs were stained with dye-woods
r herbs, the people receiving them
,eeping them Us amulets or often eat
ng their contents. Games were. and
till are, played by striking one
gainst another. In some parts at
'cotland it used to be the custom for
he young people to search fer Wild
owls eggs on Easter Sunday to pro-
ide their breakfasts, and il was
hought lucky to find them. Our
randparents and great-grandparents'
sed onion peels, grass. walnut hulls
nd even calico for coloring. md With
hese crude materials sueoeeded Is
nParting most. kaleidostopic efscts'