The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-27
Why They Are in the Show
Windows.
An Old Legend That Recently
Reached Providence.
Story Of the Easter Eggs and a Lot
of Queer Notions.

among the sweetmeats and the Easter
shoppers wonder why they are there.
They take 1t for granted that the orna-
ment has something to do with Easter
festivities and customs, but the rabbits
can't explain their own presence and it is
doubtful IL the shop owners could do 1t
for them. In fact, one dealer was asked
why he had q rabbit in his window and
replied, ~ don't know. 1t goes with the
eggs at Easter"
same land which gave the world its now
universal custom of decorating trees and
burning yule logs at Christmas-Ger-
many.
In that land of legends and folk lore
and fairy tales the pea.ants think that
at Easter the rabbits or hares are trans
formed for the ponce into oviparious ami
mails, and you see in the pastry cooks
windows animals OF that species, as large
as life, modelled in sugar, and sitting
upright in q nest, surrounded by any
quantity OF eggs. The fresh and simple
minded German children believe impiic-
lilly in the producing power of the
hare, and at about Easter time IL they see
one running across a field they clap their
hands and shout after it. "Hare, good
little hare, lay plenty OF eggs for US on
1t is the custom In German families on
Easter eve to place sugar and esgs-the
former usually filled with bon-bons or
tiny playthings-ln nest, and then con-
ceal il in the house or garden, in order
that the young ones who always rise at
break OF day on that important morning,
may have the delight of seeking and find
ing the hidden treasures.
In the Moravian settlement at Salem,
N. C., Is an old tradition as dear to the
younger people as that of Kris Kringle at
Christmas time-thst the RABBITS lay
beautifully colored eggs at Easter and
nests for the ''good rabbit" TO lay in are
secreted within the flower yards Of each
b usenold. The nests are sometimes made
of candy, the eggs likewise; but the usual
custom is to improvise a nest of grass
and straw and place within it eggs of
every Ceivable color. These are dis
covered by the little folks early Sunday
morning.
The rabbit legend, however, does not
furnish duplicate to the gr at hen prob
lem as to which came first, bird or an
blem with the Egyptians, the Romans,
the Greeks. the Gauls and the Persians
long before some imaginative German
story teller told his children that after
Lent the rabbits would lay eggs.
The custom Of hiding hard boiled and
painted eggs for the amusement OF the
children may be traced back for centur-
les.
Hutchinson, the historian, says that
"The egg was held by the Egyptians as
sacred emblem of the renovation of
mankind after the deuge. The He
brews adopted IL to suit the circum-
stances of their history as a type ot
their departure from the land of
Egypt, and it was used in the Feast of
the Passover as part Of the furniture of
the table, with the Pascha lamb. Christ
ians have certainl used it on this day, as
retaining the elements of future life, for
the emblem Of resurrection. 1t seems as IL
the egg was thus decorated for religio
trophy after the days OF modification and
abstinence were over and festivity had
taken place, and as an emblem of the
resurrection of life, certified TO US by the
resurrection from the regions of death
and the grave.u
1t is difficult TO ascertain the rrecise
origin of the graceful custom so univer-
sal in France and Germany, and more or
less prevalent throughout the world, OF
offering eggs at the festival OF Easter.
The Persians gave each other eggs at the
New Year, the Russians and the Hebrews
at the festival Of Easter. Among the
Romans the year commenced at Easter,
as 1t did among the Franks under the
Capets. Mutual presents were bestowed,
and az the egg is the emblem OF the be-
ginning OF all things, nothing better
could be found as an offering.
In Christian countries many hundreds
OF years ago the Church prohibited the
use of eggs during the forty days OF Lent
but as the heretical hen did not cease to
lay,a quantity OF eggs were found to
have accumulated at the end OF the period
OF abstinence. These were usually
given to the children, and in order to
render them more attractive, they were
dyed With gay colors or otherwise orna-
mented. fayorite game was 10 knock
two eegs together and whichever broke
became the property OF him who held the
other. OF course this would not profit
much IL the eggs were in a fluid state,
and out OF this arose the custom OF boil
ing them hard.
ORIGIN OF THE EGG DANCE.
In the district of Brisse there is GUS
tom OF scattering a hunderd eggs on a
level space covered with sand, and lad
and lass holding each other by the
hand come forward to execute dance of
the country. il they succeed in finishing
the branle" without breaking an egg
they become affianced, even the Will OF
their parents availing not to break their
union.
The strapgest belief that people ever
hau ABOUT an egg was that OF the rims,
VINO, ages ago, explained the creation by
the yolk, the white ana the shell.
They said that mystic bird laid an
egg on the lap OF Vaimainon, who hatch
ed IL In his bosom. He let il fall into
the water and IL broke; the lower por-
tion OF the shell formed The earth, the
upper the sky, the liquid white became
the sun and the yolk the moon, while
the little fragments of broken shell were
changed into stars.
The usage OF interchanging eggs at this
season has been referred for its Jrigin to
the egg games OF the Romans, which they
celebrated at the time Of our Easter,
when they ran races in an egg shaped
ring and the victor received eggs as his
prize. These games were instituted In
honor OF tastor and Pollux, who, fabul-
lists relate, came forth from an egg de-
posted by Leda after Jupiter mad visited
her In the shape OF a swan. Others
allege that the custom was borrowed from
the Hebrews, who, at their Passover set
on the table TWO unleavened cakes and
two pieces OF the lamb; 60 this they added
some small fishes, because of the levi
athani hard egg. because OF the bird
Zig. and some meal, because OF the be-
hcmoth.