Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-09-03
LADY DAY OF MARCH.
IMPORTANT IN BOTH SECULAR AND
RELIGIOUS CALENDARS.
Why the 25th Of March Il yenerated In
England-What Happens IT 1t Falls on
Easter-Seculariy Considered 1t Is tho
beginning OF One Of the Years Quarters,

The 25th Of March is an important
! date both in the secular and religious
calendars 1t is the first quarter dav in
the year and as such comes home to
most Of US who have before our eyes the
fear Of payment of rent or the rarcr
pleasure Of receiving it. The pay DAYS
in England have been arbitrarily fixed
on Lady day, Midsummer day, Michael
mas day and Christmas day Why? No.
body has been able 10 explain, unless il
Oe that, arriving, as they do, near the
end If each quarter, such important
days are better asrCmindCrs Of our duty
70 our landlord than any ordinary Both
on 3lSt Of the month would be likely &c
be.
But 1t Is, Of course, as one Of the
great festivals dedicated 10 the Virgin
CAS- It's name, Lady day, on the old term.
Our Lady's day, implics) that it has
most Importance, being the anniversary
Of the day when the angel Gabriel an
nounced to the Virgin the mystery Of
the incarnation. Four Other dates in
the calendar share the honor Of this IL
tie-namely, Feb. 2, or the Publication;
July ,, or the Visitation. 10 commem-
crate the visit paid by the Virgin Mary
Co her cousin Elizabeth INSTITUTED by
Pope Urban VI IN 1889; Sept 8, or
the Nativity. and Dec. 8. or the Con-
ception.
But the 25th of March. or tho An
uunciation, is most regarded. - it is
the anniversary, according 10 St. Au-
gustinc, Of the great event 70 which il
owes its origin, and the institution cf
this festival dates from very early times,
since St Athanasius makes mention of
1t IN one Of his sermons An order Of
the Patriarch Nicephorus having given
permission 70 break the fast Of Lent il
the Annunciation happened TO fall on
tho Thursday CT Friday Of Holy week, |
a council convened at Toledo in 500 to .
preserve the complete observance OF .
Lent and ordered the transfcrcncc If the /
holiday TO the week preceding Christ,
mas Some f the eastern churches still .
follow this decree, but the Syrians have
fixed it on Dec. / and the Armenians
on the 9TH of January. while in the
Latin church il has resumed its old
place in the ecclesiastical calendar In
the western church, if it should fall in
the Easter fortnight, its celebration il
postponed until the second Monday fol
lowing the festival.
Lady day Of March has always been
very highly observed in England The
sSnod Of Worcester, 1910 y. D., by ono
u its cmons forbade all servile work
1pon il, and this was afterward con
armed by various provincial and dioo.
.san councils IL al respects except az
'icultural labor.
In Rome, in tho carly part Of tho cen.
ury, the day used 10 be celebrated with
great pomp and splcndor We read that
he windows were hung with crimson
and yellow silk draperies and occupied
~ females in most gorgeous attire,
while the churches were patrollod by
he popc's horse guards in their splen-
lid full dress uniforms, all Of whom
wore in their caps sprig Of myrtle IA
! sign of rejoicing. Before the service a
procession appeared, preceded by anoth
r detachment of the guards mounted
N black chargers, who rode forward to
lear the way 10 the sound of trumpet
nd the beating Of drums. This martial
fray was followed by a bareheaded
'riest on a white mule, bearing the host
II gold Gun, at the sight of which ev