The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-07
EASTER IN OTHER LANDS.
S r nge Germ onies of n
G j a q NJ q r n 1 a.

S nge rmonies Of An
cl en- nd M d e n Tim S.
Among the most impressive of Easter.
customs is that of foot washing, mon
archs and mobiles performing the office
for the poor and unfortunate. For CEN
turtles in most European countries Thurs
day OF holy week was observed in this
way in commemoration Of Christ's act
when. on the day before his cruciffxion
he washed the feet of his disciples and
bade them love one another. Thus up to
the time of King James IL the king or
queen of England gathered together on
Holy Thursday a number of paupers,
equal to the years of his age and wash
ed and anointed their feet with OIL Queen
Elizabeth, for instance when in her
thirty-ninth year washed the feet of
th1rty-nine people. Even up to the pres
ent time the emperor Of Austria observes
the old custom, and in Rome the women
of the nobility still wait upon the poor
in the same way. On the same day the
pope washes the feet of thirteen priests,
who are dressed IN white and wear high
white caps. Twelve Of the priests repre-
sent the twelve apostles, while the thir-
teenth typi1es an angel After this cere-
mony is over a meal is served in a large
room over the portico of ST. Peters at
which the holy father himself waits upon
the guests.
In the mountain heights of the Aus
TRAN Tyrol bands of musicians wander
about on Easter eve, climbing from val
ley to valley and stopping before every
farm house to sing the Easter carols. The
singers wear bright colored garments
and their wide brimmed hats are fes-
TONED with flowers and ribbons. AS it
grows dusk they are Joined by bands Of
children who carry fiaring torches and
escort the Ministries from house to house.
The children also carry baskets which
are filled with Easter eggs at each farm
house. At the homes of those who are
well off wine and other refreshments are
also set before the Easter singers.
In days long gone by the people in Eng
land and the clergy used to play together
at ball inside the churches for prizes Of
tanSy cakes. and within recent times it
has been the custom for the clerk in some
parishes to go about on Easter day dis
tr1buting small white cakes among the
parishioners, receiving money in return
In the old English town of Chester the
practice of lifting was once carried on In
much more elegant manner than pre-
vailed elsewhere. The gay gallants of the
town started out in the morning of Easter
Monday, carrying with them a throne or
chair covered with white silk and trim
med with StreamerS and feStoonS of flow
ers 1t was their privilege to force everv
pretty girl they met to take a seat in the
throne and then be carried along on the
shoulders Of the jewellers until she was
willing to pay q forfeit of kiss to each
of the men who had made her captive.
The French peasants believe that ON
Easter morning. at the sound Of the re-
Jolclns peIlS, fa1r angels with azure wings
We're supposed to descend from heaven
bearing baskets of eggs, which thew de-
posted in the houses of the faithful.
In Russia Easter is the one great festi-
val of the wear. The Passa ge From Dark
ness to Light. the Opener of the Gates
of Paradise. the Sanctifier of the FAITH
full, are few Of the names which the
Russians have given to Easter Sunday
On Saturday night all the churches and
chapels are crowded with people dressed
in new and bright clothes. There are TO
seats in Russian churches, SO everybody