Omaha daily bee., 1894-03-25

Oriental churches generally, observed the old
calendar, so that their Easter oc-
ours som ines before and some
times after that of the western
church, though very rarely, as in 1865,
Ii falls on the same day. The old Roman
rule for calculating Easter continues to be
observed throughout the Christian world, by
whom our Lords resurrection is universally
celebrated on the first Sunday after the
fourteenth day of the calendar moon which
happens on or next after March 81, the
vernal equinox, thus allowing it to occur as
early as March %, or as late as April %.
THE NAME OF EASTER,
like those of the days of the week, is a sur
vival of the old Teutonic mythology. To
the erma 1t was known as Ostern, and to
the Anglo SaXons as Eastre or Eostra, a
name derived from Eostre or Ostara, the
Anglo Saxon Goddess of Spring, to whom the
fourth month, answering to our April, thence
called Eostur monath, was dedicated. The
name OF this goddess comes from the Saxon
Oster, to rise.
Easter customs, sports and superstitions
afford a wide field of interest. While many
Of them have existed almost from the first
celebration of this festival, and are found
among Christians of all nationalities, there
are others which are peculiar to peoples and
places. The oldest and most universal OF
all Easter customs are those associated with
eggs. Hundreds of years before Christ eggs
held an important place in the theology
and philosophy of the Egyptians, Persians,
Gauls, Greeks and Romans, among all OF
whom an egg was the emblem of the uni
verse, and the art OF coloring 1t was pro,
foundly studied. The sight of street boys
striking their rival eggs together to see
which is the stronger and can win the other.
was as common in the streets of Rome and
Athens 1000 years ago, If we are to believe
antiquarians. as it is in any of our Ameri-
can cities at the present day. These eggs.
now called Easter eggs, were originally
known as Pasche eggs, corrupted to Paste
eggs, because connected with the Paschal
or Passover feast. One reason for associa.
ting an egg with the day on which our
Savior arose from the dead may be that
the little chick, entombed, so to speak,, in
the egg and rising from it into life, was
regarded as typical of an ascension from the
grave,
to exchange presents of Easter eggs among
the children of families who are on intimate
terms. a custom which also prevailed largely
among the ancients and to which the send
ing of Easter cards and other offerings,
which has become so popular of late years
i'm our own country, may be traced. The
extent to which the latter practice has in
creased of late is almost incredible, and
these offerings grow more elaborate and eN-
pensive every year.
SOCIA PLEASURES.
1t is also customary in England's northern
counties to deliberately "engrave' Easter
eggs by scraping off the dye with a pen
knife, thus leaving the design In white upon
a colored ground. The fun name of the
decorator, with the date Of his or her birth,
Is often recorded in this manner and these
eggs, being carefully preserved for genera
lions as to cupboarus ana
nantes, would doubtless present as reliable
evidence of dates as the records OF a FAMILY
bible.
The custom Of drinking eggnogg at Easter
IS one that has been peculiar to certain
American cities from their earliest history.
The most careful and patient inquiry on my
mart has failed TO discover the origin of this
usage. There is no mention OF II in any
antiquarian writings and 1t has no ancient
history. nor any social or religious signlh-
canoe. II is not practiced in any other
country and would therefore seem TO be a
! purely American observance, ana II Is only
in a few places In our own lana that egg
nogg is directly associated with EASTER
A century or more ago both the English
I clergy and laity used to play ball In the
/ churches for tansy cakes at Eastertide. the
hall playing part OF this custom was long
| since abandoned, but tansy cakes and
puddlngs are still favorite Easter delicacies
in many parts OF England tansy having
been selected from the bitter herbs eaten
by the Jews at this season, Parish clerks
i'm the counties OF Dorset and Devon leave
as an Easter Offering at the house OF every
parishoner Immediately after the church
service on Good Friday a large ana a small