The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-30
'At Easter let your clothes be new,
Or else be sure you will it rue.'

There is DO doubt that the spirit of pagan ism
entered very largely into the old time obsery-
ance of the Christian holidays inasmnch as,
when originated, they 80 often were allowed to
take the place OF. or supersede, the festivals of
the ancient Romans Saxons. In England,
as we have seen, they did not hesitate to adopt
the name of heather goddess when the
Church ordained that Christ's resurrection
should be eommemOrated annually in the
Spring, for the reason probably that the early
converts still clnng 10 the festival of Easter.
Therefore, it would appear that not few of
the quaint and curious popular customs of Old
England were engrafted, so to speak. on the
observance of the primitive dwelers in that
land.
One of the strangest of these old customs,
dear TO the vulgar heart. was that styled ''lift-
ing" or q" heagiug." This is still praetieed in
some remote districts.
a writer of century and a half ago thus de-
scrbes ii:
On Easter Monday the men do lift the women,
and on Easter Tuesday the women do lift
heaVe the men. The process is performed by
two lusty men or women joining their hands
across each others wrists; then, making the
person to be liftcgF sit down on their arms, they
lift him up three times. and often carry him
several rods. At the end of the ceremony the
person lifted is duly kissed by the litter, and
forfeit is claimed besides"
After being obliged 10 submit to such undig-
nlhed handling OF the person this, any thing
less than the proifering of a kiss would have,
presumably, been adding insult to injury;
though alas in SOME cases. the consolation
might prove worse than the fheavng."
Among the records preserved in the Tower of
London is roll stating that sGndry titled
danes and maids OF honor received payment
for lifting" King Edward L. in bed on Easter
morn.
This custom may have been intended 10
crudely typify the resurrection. Possibly the
modern childrcn's pastime OF making chair is
a relic of this usage.
In Yorkshire the men enjoyed the privilege
of tearing off the buck les OF women's shoes on
Sunday, while the fair sex were not slow to re-
turn the compliment on Monday On We'd
nesday the articles could be redeemed by pay
ing small sum in the way of forfeit, the pro-
ceeds being devoted to village romp in the
evening.
Strangers passing along the highway were
considered lawful prey aud unless such luckless
traveller could arrange to stay over until We'd
nesday they must needs continue on buckleless.
Another old custom that was regarded in the
light OF a religious duty in the rural districts
was to extingush the household fires and re-
light them Immediately on Easter Eve from
cousecrated hintS preserved in the churches
for that purpose. The flint was supposed to be
symhslcal of Christ and the fire of the Holy
Ghost.
The tradition about the sun "daueing for
JOY" on Easter morning is very ancient One
In Ireland, especially. rich and poor alike
strove to rise betimes, that their vision might
be gladdened by the'novel and graceful tribute
of the orb of day. So the old song goes:
Pat oj,a