Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-06

ever, has virtue only when. while drawing
II, the wind is due east. So far is this car
ried in the northern parts of Europe that
when the spring is backward and the Eas-
ter waters still icebound the pious folk
break through the ice in order TO battle in
the streams Often great numbers gather /.
on the banks and encourage the bathers
with shouts and cheers. 1t would seem
tolerably certain that a man sturdy enough
to resist the shock and exposure of this icy
bath would not be likely to die from pneu-
monia or heart disease, at least for sew
eral years.
Watering n Flower.
In Hungary at every cottage whose roof
shelters a marriageabie girl are to be seen
on Easter morning branches OF pine gaily
decorated with clusters OF ribbon. They
have been placed there over night by the
young men returning from the fields The
peasant lover, accompanied by several
friends enters the house. carrying a pail /.
and says to its owner: II have heard that
there is a flower in your garden, and l
crave for your permission to water it"
The father replies: Il thank you for the
honor you have done in visiting my
roof / have a flower. but IL grows with
out being watered." But the lover watches
outside the house with his pail OF water.
and on the appearance of the girl he pours
some over her until he gets ransom from
her In the shape OF a certain number of
Easter eggs. This custom is varied among
the better classes. perfume being used in
stead OF water.
The appearance of a symbolicai Easter
king was. until lately. frequent in England
and. continental Europe. He rode gaily
attired with the scepter in his hand and
tin crown on his head in solemn state to
the church. Cuba celebrates Easter by
a sort of sacred street drama, in which
the figures of Christ, the Virgin Mary ana
Mary Magdalene, borne by priests take
part. In the mountain districts OF Vene-
zuela there are nightly professions during
the holy week showing the various events.
closing with the resurrection. Here, also,
life-size wax figures fmpersonate the holy
characters. Midnight mass is said in
churches of the Greek faith. Just at mid
night a loud knocking commences at the
door. which is repeated several times. On
the gates being opened the priests and
choir hurry in, crying out again and again:
Christ is risen" 1t takes but a minute
to change the entire scene by the lighting
| of many tapers.
Can Claim n Reward.
In warwiclzshire. England, If the young
men can catch a hare and bring 1t to the
| parson in the morning of Easter Monday,
| he is bound to give them 100 eggs and other
presents. AS hares are uncommon at that
| time of the year the prize is seldom claim
ed In Bulgaria young men and women
meet only on Easter Monday, when they
| all congregate in the church yard, attired
| in picturesque holiday dress and indulge
| in social games. II during these games
girl Allows ner 10 DS
| away by young man this is sign of
| proposal and acceptance. The next day
| her parents send a big jug of wine to him
as token of their approval.
| In the Austrian Tyrol Easter pranks,
| like our April fool day Jokes. are perpe-
| trated. Hospitality is universal at this
| time and nobody asking for shelter is re-
| fused. A Hungarian Easter custom is the
| Kalaka. 1t consists in the farmers gath
| ering and doing a day two Of labor
gratis for their poorer neighbors who can
not employ hands. The wife of the peasant
| for whom the work has been done awaits
them with an excellent supper. This is
generally followed by dance and the fes-
| tivities are kept up until morning.