New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-10

vvi,roeeae 1vere not lacking to prove that the
dancing phenomenon occurred. In THE Every
dav Rookr w Home says gravely that nobody
can hear 70 view the sun without some dark
ening medium, and that IL one tries TO 90 so
the sun will be found to move little. not only
on Easter. but on any other day in the calendar.
He refers also to the habit which prevailed OF
looking not at the sun, but at its rejection III
a spring or pool and says that the ripples or
the water would give the appearance or dane
ing Sir Thomas Browne. in his enquiry Into
Vulgar Errors" refutes this popular belief In
his own ingenious and quaint fashion.
THE ORIGIN OF EASTER FASHIONS,
To neglect the putting IN of some entirely new
article Of dress on Easter Sunday was regarded
rs sure to bring bal luck, and certainly TN. Is
one Of the practices which has lost nothing with
the increase Of years Only now 1t has been
slightly altered. so that to have no new clothes
10 exhibit at the Easter parade is considered suf-
9ccntlv bad luck in itself. without the fear or
1nv further misfortunes that may result from IL
After DOMINIC their new Easter garments the
English country people dined off tansy pudding
and bacon or tansy pudding and good red her
ring" the tansy being the symbol of the bitter
herbs commanded TO be eaten at the Paschal
feast
Athletic games Of various kinds were usually
| told on Easter Monday They included hare and
bounds. footracinr handball and many other
,ld-fashoned ball games most Of which are now
practically unknown. They were then INDUCED
IN not ONLY 10y the common people, but by the
members If the municipal corporations and
thor porsora~os who lent dignity to the occa-
ion. II is said that the Easter ball games We're
.itI cpirf II n a
ears at Bury St Edmunds by twelve old women
T the parish.
The practice Of 'lifing" once greatly in vogue
md SIN 10 be found hora and there in England
&c ono Of tho most curious Of the Easter Gus
.onoe T. was observed on Easter Monday ar'
Castor Tuesday. the mon "liftirg' or "heavins''
'he women on the former occasion. and the
~omer returning the compliment the next dav
rhe nrocoss consisted in placing the person r.
10 lifted on tho crossed hands Of two or three
,thors ord raising him high off the ground
'hroo times ~ tho end of the ceremony III"
fftors evrccied 2 fee ~ kiss or a silver six
oerce ard sometimes both. Occasionally n char
~as used FOR the lifting. 4 traveller in ENGLAND
-,onv voars ago. who entirely unacouainte'
18th this Foster custom. leaves n pathetic ac-
count or his howderment one Faster TUESDAY
mon being seized nv several vigorous young
vomen placed. in spitc Of his troubles. in
~avlv decorated chair and raised aioft three
lines. TO the full height to which these ANA
IONS could reach. Then he was in still greater
CONSERVATION be alleges when he was kissed
heartily rv each one Of his fair filters and re-
,uested TO present to the group piece of silver
n token Of his gratitude.
THE EASTER HARE.
Doubtless many people have wondered what
-elation 10 the Easter season IS borne by the
'osts Of candy hares and rabbits which arc
lenlaved by the confecioners. side by side
Nth tho Faster eggs This association Of the
Nare with the festival is an old custom among
he Cernars and has doubtless been introduced
VITO thi. country by them Its origin is remote
ord rather VAGUE but the attempt to trace IT
brings ont interesting facts
In an article by Katherine Hillard. I'm 1.-THE
Ntlantc Monthly" for May 1890 the author
goes into the subject Of the Faster hare at
length. Researches having shown that the
hare was used by various ancient nations as a
vmb0 of the moon, she prefaces her remarks
lv some explanation Of the close connection be-
'ween the moon and Easter thus establishing
me chain Of related ideas For thing. she
mentions that the Saxon goddess Eostre is
houeht 10 have been identical with Astarte.
he Ph0nician goddess Of the moon Then fol-
lows an account Of the important part which
The moon played i'm the religious mythology Of
The Egyptians It's different phases were thought
20 represent the conflict between the powers OF
good and evil During the latter or waning half
4 the moon Typhon. the god OF darkness and
evil was supposed TO conquer Osiris. who repre-
scented light and the principle OF good Osiris
u-ac inf