Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-04-27
ABOUT EASTER EGGS.
THEIR SYN 0oucAL USE AN
ANCIENT cUsf rom.

UOVOuv V0000s
OF oil the peculiar customs in
vogue in Christendom to-day the use
Of the Easter, or Pasche, egg Is prob.
ably the most widely spread and
most ancient. To It's antiquity, it
may be said, this peculiar Easter rite
owes Its general observance, for its
origin dates back not merely to the
birth OF Christianity, but to much
earlier times, when several ancient
peoples recognized the use OF eggs ut
this season Of the year rs symbolical
OF the resurrection OF nature-the
springlng forth Of life in the spring.
II Is not surprising, therefore, that
the early Christians grow to recog.
n!7e tho egg az n fitting symbol Of
the Resurrection, or, 6s an old writer
puts It, IAN emblem OF the rising
up out Of the grave, In tho same
manner as the chick, entombed. az It
were. In the egg, is in due time
brought to life."
The Count de Gobelin, in his IRE.
ligious History Of the Calendar, de-
clares that this custom Of giving
eggs at Easter Is to be traced up TO
the theology and philosophy Of the
Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks,
Romans and other ancient nations.
Hutchinson, In his history OF
Northumberland, says Of the Pasche
eggs: They were held by the Egyp.
tians rs q sacred emblem OF the reno.
walton Of mankind after the deluge.
The Jews adopted IL to suit the cir.
cumstances OF their history as type
Of their departure from the land oil
Egypt, and II was used In the feast
OF the Passover as part OF the furni-
turc OF the table with the Paschal
lamb.
Tho Christians have certainly used
II on this day, as retaining the Gle.
ments OF future life, for an emblem
Of the Resurrection. II seems rs II
the egg was thus decorated for re-
ligious trophy after the days OF NOR.
LITIGATION and abstinence were over
and festivity had taken place, and as
nm emblem OF life certified to us by
the Resurrection from tho regions OIL
death aud the grave"
CARMEL, in his History OF Gus
TOMS" says that during Easter and
the following days. hard eggs, paint.
ed various colors. but principally
red, are the ordinary food OF the sen.
son. and that in Italy. Spain and
Provence. where nearly all ancient
superstltions are retained, there orc
In the public places certain sports
with eggs. He attributes this custom
a. coming from the Jews or the pa
gans, observing that It 10 common Il
both. The jewish wives, he says. Of
the feast OF the Passover, on q table
prepared for that purpose. place
hard eggs, the symbols Of a bird call
cd Zlz, about which many fabulous
stories are told.
THAT tho church Of Rome" say,
Brand In his Popular Antiquities
considered eggs as emblematical o
the Resurrection may be gathered
from the subsequent prayer, which
the reader will find In an extract
from the ritual OF Pope Paul! the
Fifth, for the use OF England, Scot
land and Ireland. II contains varl
GUS other forms OF benediction.
BLESS. O Lord! we beseech Thee,
this Thy creature OF eggs, that Il
may become sustenance to Thy
faithful servants. eating 1t in thank
fulness TO Thee. on account OF tn,
Resurrection OF our Lord"
In Hakluyt's voyages the following
amusing account IL given OF tho OBJ
servance Of tho custom In Russia al
that period: "Thay have an ordel
at Easter which they always observe
and that Is this: Every yeere,
against Easter, to die or colour red
with Brazzel (Brazil WOODY, q great
number Of egges, Of which every mar
and woman giveth one unto tho
priest OF the parish upon Easter day
In the morning. And, moreover. thu
common people use to carrie In theil
hands one Of these redde egges, moi
only upon Easter day, but also three
or foure days after, and gentleman
and gentlewomen have egges gilded,
which they carry In like manner.
"They use 1t, as they say, for ,
great love and In token OF the Resur
rection. whereof they rejoice. Fol
where too friends meete during the
Easter Holydayes. they come ant
take another by the hand; the on,
saith, The Lord. or Christ Is risen |;
the other answereth. 1t 10 SO OF I
TRUTH ana then they kiss and ex
change their egges, both mon and
women, continuing In kissing FOUR
dayes together"
This odd custom still exists In Rus
sia in q modified form. The Abb
d'Auteoreche, In his Journey to 81
beria," relates that on Easter morn
ing q Russian entered his room. en-
braced him and then gave him ,
gayly decorated egg.
The custom OF picking eggs Is NJ
extremely old ono. 1t was In vogue
In the various parts OF England. Scot
land. Wales, and In portions OF Europe
many centuries ago, and although /
has become extinct In many localities
1t 10 stall prosecuted with unlessenc
vigor and enjoyment by the youths II
many lands. Hyde, in his work OF
Oriental sports numbers this plttini
OF egg against egg to sec which viii
break the others shell as one OF thu
Easter games OF the Christians o.