The morning times., 1896-04-05
EASTER THE WORLD OVER
How Our Sister Nations Keep the
Festival.
OTHER LANDS
Games, Dishes, Music and Other OBJ
serva1ceS Peculiar to Ger
tain Localities.
Copyright. 1861

White travelling in Ireland a few years go.
spent the Eastertide at the country seat OF
an Irish gentleman near Glengariff, and
was much interested in the Easter customs
and folklore of the Irish peasantry. One
or the Guaintest of their superstitionsI found
to be Il belief that the sun dances in the
heavens on Easter morning. About 3 or 8
O'Clock of the previous evening. which they
call" Holy lySaturday, the wiveso ofprosperous
farmers placed many fat hen and choice
piece OF juicy bacon in the family pot, and
woe bettde the iuekiess wight who yentured
TO taste before cockcrow. At midnight
among universal expressions OF JOY, heard
on every hand loud cries of out with the
Lent"
Then. after short period OF merriment,
the chouseholtlretired to rest but my host had
me up gain at O'Clock in the morning TO
see the sun dance This superstition is not
confined to the lower or middle classes of
Ireland, for L was assured by many Irish
ladies and gentlemen of wealth anu culture
that they have repeatedly seen tile sun dance
Oh Easter morning.
Amoug the peasantry, where l was So
| tourning, synonym for Easter Sunday is
Mothering Sunday, - because / It's customary
| FOR all young people employed away from
| home to visit their parents on that day and
| some dainty edible. T. Z. ROGER
| THE ENGLISH EASTER.
| While visiting the rector OF Coles Hill
/ parish in Warwickshire. a few years ago. L
| had an opportunity OF witnessing some OF
the guaint customs of the English TustiCs i'll
/ connection with Easter. Tansy cakes and
! puddiBgs seem 10 be the favorite Easter
l =
| from the bitter herbs eaten by tie Jews ut
! this season. The parish clerk eft at the
| house Of every parishioner after the church
service on Good Friday, large and a
small white cake having a mingled sweet
/ and bitter taste. This IS evidently survival
or the bitter herbs OF tie Passion Sup
| per-"
| Ny friends church was one of the rough
| stone, ivy-gro wn sacred edifiCes in which
rural England abounds, and f4Dm its tower
! there were thrown, on Easter morning Z.
! loayes OF bread TO be scrambled for by the
! poor of the parish, portion of the fund
! devoted to the support of the church bav-
| ing been set aside for this purpose for CEN
| turies past.
| Early on the morning Of Easter Monday I
| saw gathered upon the la wn large assem-
| bly, OF the young men uf the parish. one OF
| whom was holding up in triumph for the
| inspection of my good friend the rector a
! hare or rabbit. subsequently learned that
from time immemorial the rector of Cole 5
| Hill had been held in duty bound 10 give a
| caifs head and a hundred eggs for their
| brea kfast. together with a 'groat' in
| money to the young men of his parish If they
| should catch and bring him a hare before
10 o'clock on the morning Of Easter Nou-
| day.
AT Green wich Hill. near London, il is a
rare sight To see young men and women roll
ing down the hin together locked in each
others arms. This was originally one OF
the customs of May Day. hut has nov come
to be added to those of Easter.
THOMAS F. BA YARD.