The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-18

Easter has long been considered a sea-
son OF great festivity. Even before the
apostles brought the Christian faith into
Europe the day was celebrated in honor
OF the 0ermanic goddess Estera- and stall
wart warriors hid eggs beneath bushes
and about their tents for the little ones
to find and make merry over. The hatch
ing OF the eggs was then supposed 10
symbolic the Te-birth Of the god Baldur.
and the eggs Of Easter were left white 10
Indicate the white god Baldur.' After
these children we're taught the new Gospel
the eggs Were stained red 10 symbolic the
death on Calvary. This In the course OF
years has changed into the using OF all
colorS and various designs, SO that the
religious significance IN the cOioring is
lost The custom of saving up eggs for
Easter i very old one, in fact Older than
Easter itself. for the people OF the earliest
ages used them as a symbolic gift
In no country were the ancient customs
OF the Easter festival more curious than
those which prevailed among All ranks
throughout England. one OF the observ-
auces was the playing At hand ball FOR
tansy cake. the winning OF which de-
peuded chiefly on swiftness OF foot. This
game was INDUCED in By all the dlgnita-
ries including the clergy. Another GUS
tom was lifting or ''heaving" as ~
was called IN some places. This began on
Easter Monday. when between the hours
OF and IL 10 the morning. the men went
about from house 10 house lifting the
women within On Tuesday morning ut
the same hour the women IN parties OF six
or eight. went about lifting the men. The
victim WIS laid IN horizontal position.
and with two at each leg and two AZ each
arm they raised him "a high as their
heads three times amid loud auEzahs. and
then left 70 go to another In some To-
calities a chair covered all IN white was
used TO ''heave. and was raised three
times with great shouts. This manner Of
celebrating originally meant 20 typify the
resurrection Of Christ. bat II time came
20 ~ only "A rough frollc- INDUCED in by
the ignorant cIa ~ses and Is new quite lost
sight Of
Another ~ the old English customs was
the pulling II OF the shoe buckles from
the passer-by IN the streets and demand
srg \ forfeit for the return. the forfeit
being sometimes kiss and sometimes
money. but IL was al n very good-natured
and unembarrsssed give and take
VERY pretty celebration was that Il
the children from the parish schools who
would march 70 p church. ard with thetr
hacks pressed close against the walls.
would 3oin their outstretched hands until
they completely encfrcied the church
This was called "ciipptug After one
church was clipped" they would march
10 another. and so on until all were done
In Russia there IS a strange blending q
rfstv and follity II the Easter season
with them Easter day - the greatest ma
tional holiday a. vel as the greatest re-
ffrsous feast and i - the special time for
fha giving q presents For a week all
r,fa~es % business are closed and the whole
country gives Itself 80 n the celebration.
II IS sha great season Of horse cleaning
f,s.t unlike fhaf dreaded time n most
countries q Is made an occasion 81 much
satisfy with brushes fastened 20 their
feet ~ men skate over the doors 20 the
nrrar,ma nErnemt NJ tire w0Fuen's singing
Whan the house has been cleaned from
ROOT 20 eeijar every ore prepares their
gifts for the Faster morn. The streets
a~a nnsf WIN booths from watch al
ksnas 81 TOYS and Faster sEgs are Sold ard
ses hustle ard excitement IS very much
lfke the day before Christmas Wita Us
The early morning. hours of Easter day
are given ever 70 rel g3eus service. but
after thar the dsv IS ffle8 VIII social
measures and Eaiet&es. People ~ holiday
attire 30 one upon the Errcets ard greet
each ether WITH Christ nas risen 20
vxhf~N s-oTarS ths answer lie e. RISEN In
A.aA 90 and thru exchsuze decorated eggs.
ard everything IS IN diTect contrast %
~. s0leranltV - the previous week
Marr years $50 s. was enc general cos-
Ter. AZ over EssIrone 20 exchange gifts -
Easter gay 1ut now II s. coa1ue3 u only
few n sor1e uf8eeS 90 EnEiard the
-an~~A records Stow tter1s ~ money
sxssnt fa- nreas - Bee Distributes annoa =
-. poor. = was deere in funny wsv.
80 A "snxpf7e VAS Nfre6 - rissvh n
IRE ehurrh Sxeeple 20 throw 81 dewr %
~ S-rar,hIea fer and 81 soase iSsta-r@s
rs hire vas uote6 as peace for h8s serv-
t~@ II Err3an8 toe there were many
ssueer sur-~sffssoEs connected with Faster
Witch rarses uses 20 tell Nttts cefFtrr-s-
n~.e VS. tNzf tnav TnuSs BREAK thtt~ shells
n@er eating fhe eggs to prevent ira
witches fruTs tRktrE them feT boats A.
ether wss tnat tee sun danced fo- t7v
> on Eastern zsorn and - ere wouAt dis
pate th&I soE L tAsy leoks- ~ TIE s4a