New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-10
EARTH'S SPRING FESTIVAL.
QUAINT EASTER CUSTOMS PAGAN AND
CHRISTIAN.
THE GIVING; OF EGGs-wHEN THE SUN DANCED N
THE sKY-"LIFTING"-THE HARE AND us

Tho cuetonn OF holding a spring festival To
co1ehrate the revival OF the earth's life FOR IN"
,oar-tbe custom OF which the Christian Easter
has been only a comparatively recent develop
,or, dates hack to the remOtest antiquity OF
Tho nations and this instructive desire to rejoice
onenlv at the return Of the spring season sun
seems to be the predominant characteristic "'
tho Easter festival. Its religious significance H.
of course observed with ceremony III th'
churches. but the day is also anticipated ana
made much Of in a variety OF ways entirely u"'
related TO the church or its services. III IL
worldly aspect It differs little in its nature from
the ancient pagan festival which commemorative
snring. The same idea Of the season inspires It
az that which prompted the celebrations 'h"u-
sands OF years ago; the differences are only
those which the modern mode Of life has instl-
tuted.
II was through the efforts Of the tests and
teachers of the early Christian Church that the
Easter season was shorn Of its pagan ceremonies
and converted into a Christian anniversary
These priests. finding it impossible to induce inc
German and Saxon tribes among whom they
Iabored TO renounce their worship Of the Goa
dess Of Sprng-variously known as Ostera, EOS
ire and Eastre-skiIfully managed to give the
rites another turn, prOclaiming that the season
celebrated the rising Of Christ from the deaH
Gradually as the new religion gained ground
the old heather superstitions died out Inc goa
dose Eastre was no longer revered, but ben
name was retained to designate what had now
hecome the festival of the Resurrection For
the first three centuries Of the Christian err
Easter was celebrated on the same day as the
Jewish Passover. but after much dissatsfac-
ton had been expressed at this coincidence OF
Of
800 A. D.. the present mode of determining tn
date Of Easter. This as every one knows, pro-
vides that it shall fall on the first Sunday after
tho full moon which occurs upon or next after
March 81 the vernal equinox.
The customs traditions and superstitons con
rected with Easter are almost innumerable.
Tbeir origins are in many cases impossible to
determine because they evidently took place
at a time when the season was still pagan IN
its character Others. again. are directly con
nected with the Christian observance OF the
festival The early Christians in many countries
used to greet one another on Easter morning
with the salutation:
Christ is risen"
The reply to this was
Christ is risen, indeed and hath appeared t.
Simon
This custom. it is said is still observed in the
Greek Church
THE SYMBOL OF THE EGG.
The giving Of eggs at Easter. the sprinp
festival Is one OF the most widely known. as II
is also one Of the oldest. OF the customs From
the remotest times the egg has stood to the
Eastern nations as the symbol Of the universe
and its breaking at that time has represented
the opening OF the new life Of the year Whei
the custom was carried over into Christian prac
tice the Easter eggs were usually sent 10 th'
priests TO be blessed and sprinkled with holN
water In later times the coloring and decorat-
ing of the eggs was introduced, and in a roya'
roll Of the time Of Edward l., which is preserved
in the Tower Of London. there is an entry OF
1Sd for 400 eggs, TO be used for Easter giits
In the last few years artificial eggs Of candy.
china and other materials. and egg-shaped art-
cles Of all kinds have largely replaced the rea'
eggs as Easter gifts The shop-windoWs each
year at this season testify to the ingenuity oN-
pended in devisng new and attractive opJccN
in which the idea Of the Easter egg shall be-
preserved In Paris these Easter presents ar
generally given on the first day Of Passion
Week All are embematic Of eggs. and ar
known as "orufs des Paque," or "Paschal eggs"
In Russia says one writer. the silver Of an egg
at Easter is entitled. according to custom, to
take a kiss from the one who receives his pres
ent and as no distinction Of classes is allowed
the poorest peasant may claim his right thus
10 salute the proudest lady In the land
An old religious custom In the Christian
churches was the watching OF the sepuchre,
which was observed on Easter eve and through
out that night. with burning OF Paschal tapers'
solemn vigils and prayers. This was In accord
ance with an ancient tradition that Christ would
make his second appearance on earth on Easter