The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03

Gregorian calendar, there could be nc
more cause for dispute.
SOME QUEER CASTER CUSTOMS.
One of the features of the earliest
Easter celebrations was the blessing of
an immense wax candle. which Is said
To have been originally a column of
wax on which the date for keeping
Easter was written. Ii was first inn
printed at Alexandria. for i'm that city
the study of astronomy specially -four
ished. and to its church the drawing
up OF the calendar was therefore left,
The waxen column. inscribed with its
dates. was first sent by the patriarch
of Alexandria to the pope at Rome,
and the latter sent copies to the other
churches. These were subsequently
used as paschal candles.
The Easter salutation, The Lord is
Risen" with it's answer. He Is Risen.
indeed" is still In universal use i'm Rus
STA and the East. II is said that one
ear. on leaving his apartments on an
Easter morning, greeted the sentry sta
toned at the portal with the words.
The Lord is risen" The man was a
Mohammedan. n TO the surprise of
the emperor replied, : they say" As
a result OF this incident strict orders
were given that no follower OF Ma
homet should be stationed near the
emperor's person.
The customs peculiar to Easter are
many, and few know their origin or
meaning. The most common is the
presenting of ~ as gifts symbolic Of
the season. The use of Eggs for Easter
can be traced To the theology n phil
osophy of Egyptians. Perslans. Gauls.
Greeks and Romans. among all OF
whom an egg was the symbol of the
universe. the work Of the supreme
divinity. The Persians gave presents
of eggs at the feast Of the yernal equi-
nox-in honor OF the renewal of all
things.
The Jews adopted the egg to suit the
circumstances OF their history as a type
of their departure from Egypt. and IL
was used In the feast of the passover as
part Of the furnishing of the table with
the paschal lamb. The early Druids
also used the egg In their ceremonies.
In some countries of Italy eggs are
carried to the church To be blessed.
and then taken home and set out with
flowers on the table. Every visitor
during Easter week il invited to eat
an Easter egg, an invitation which
must not be refused. Eggs in all coun-
tries are sent as tokens at this time.
and enter into the sentiments and pas
times Of old and young alike.
The custom OF coloring Easter Eggs
seems TO be as old as the use of the
egg as a symbol. In early times the
tender blades OF wheat. which AT this
season We're just beginning to show
above the ground. were used for color
ing. A handful of the wheat blades
was thrown into "A pot with the eggs.
and turned them a dark BEAUTIFUL
green. Soon after colors were obtained
from mulberry leaves. and the Persians
used their splendid dyes with great ef-
feet. The people then learned To writs
upon the boiled eggs with a creased
stick-a custom still observed by n
North American Indians-and other
methods OF decoration soon became
known. In India the Parsees exchanged
red eggs.
In Germany sometimes instead Of
egCs at Easter. a curious print Illus
trative Of their use is presented. One
Of these emblematic prints is preserved
IN the print room OF the British mu-
scum. Three hens are depicted as hold
ing a basket. in which are placed three
eggs. ornamented with Illustrations Of
the resurrection; over the central egg
the Angus Del" with a chalice repre-