Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-02
THE ORIGIN OR
THE EASTER EGG.
The Egg LAS Always Been Held as
The Symbol Of Cr0tt.Ol.
THE PERSIANS HAD AN EGG DAY.
1t Meant to Them the Opening Of the
New Life Of the New
Year.
HENCE eAMR OUR EASTER EGG.

The egg has always been held as a
symbol of creation. According to the
Hindoo the world existed as huge
egg with the power of creation within
it.
The Chinese believed that the world
was formed by the separation of an
egg. From the center of it stepped
out human being, who. by wave of
hand, formed the heavens out of the
upper half of the she'll and the earth
out of the lower half
The Japanese held that the egg in
| cluded the gem of all things, a sort OF
modern evolution theory. When the
egg burst what was pure assembled and
formed the heavens, and what. was inn
pure descended and formed the earth.
Egyptian temples were filled with
wings.
With the dawn of the Christian era
the egg became a symbol of the resur-
rection. Hence Easter eggs.
One must so back to the Persians for
their first observance of the egg day.
Before their conversion to Mohamme-
danism the Persians reckoned the be-
ginning Of their new year from the day
in which the sun enters Aries, which
is in March.
According to one of the ancient cos
moganies, all things were produced
from an egg, hence called the Mundane
egg. This cosmogany was received in
Persia and on this account there OBJ
tanned among the people of that coun-
try, custom of presenting each other
with an egg. the symbol of a new
beginning of time, on every New Years
Day--that is, on the day when the sun
enters Aries.
The doctrine of the Mundane esq was
not confined to the limits Of Persia,
but was spread. together with the con-
sequent practice OF presenting New
Years eggs, through various other
countries.
Now among all these changes the GUS
tom of giving an egg at the suns en-
trance into Aries has continued. The
egg has also continued to be held as
symbol, and the sole alteration Is tho
prototype. AT first it was said tosbe
the beginning OF time and now it Is
called the symbol of the resurrection.
One sees, therefore. what was the, real
origin of the Easter egg of the Greek
and Roman churches. I.f 4
There is an old English proverb on
the subjects of Easter eggs, namelyI
"Tll warrant you an egg for Easter,
In some parts of England. notably in
the north. the eggs are coloreds by,
means of dying drugs. inSwhlch the
eggs are boiled. These eggs are called
paste" eggs, also pace" and "pasche."
all derived from "pascha"--1aster.
The Germans have a lovely custom Of
hiding the Easter. eggs on Easter eve.
under the bushes. and in the thickest
tufts OF grass; If the weather Is I'M,
propitious they secrete them in hooks
about the house, and the children. have,
merry time finding them in the early
Easter morn.
According to the legend that goes
with this custom, the Easter eggs. are
laid by hare; and in virtue thereof,
tiny hare, made of pasteboard or con-
fectionery, and filled with bonbons, Us
frequently found sitting. uprightlin the
hidden nests in the midst OF the eggs.
number Of which are choice confec-'
tions, or OF pure sugar.
The legend Of the hare is said TO
have originated from a little child who.
seeking the Easter eggs, saw a hare
spring from near the nook where his
eggs we're hidden. and who exclaimed.
Now / know what lays my Easter
eggs!"
Probably one OF the most beautiful
Easter eggs OF modern times was one
presented to an infanta Of Spain few
years ago. The gospel OF Easter day
was inscribed on the inside Of tho
shell which was polished until It was
as clear as glass.