The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-30
THE FEAST OF EASTER.

The name Easter is derived as some
suppose, from Eastre, the title of a Sax
on deity whose feast was celebrated
every year in the spring about the same
time as the Christian festival, the rame
being retained when the character of the
feast was changed, or, as others suppose,
from Oster which signifies rising. If
the latter superstition is correct Easter in
IN name as well as reality the feast
OF the resurrection. Therefore, like most
OF the other important feaStS of the
Christian church, Easter is an adaptation
by the early fathers Of the church of
a pagan spring festival The Jews got
1t from the Egyptians. the Christians
adopted and adapted the Jewish Pass
over. The Jewish year is not fixed as
ours Is. The Jewish Passover occurs
on the fifteenth day Of Nissan; as the
year begins at a different time from.
year to year, so the passover is cele-
brated on a different day each year. And,
as easter IS practically the same as
the Passover, its date changes.
The early fathers refused to admit
that Easter was the same as the Pass
over, and so decided that it should he
celebrated on the Sunday after the full
moon, which occurred upon or next after
March y, that being the date of the
Nernal or spring equinox. SO Easter
moves around with a range from March
y to April "a. Why the dates-Ash
"Wednesday, Good }'riday and Easter
connected with the risen Savior" shouId
be movable and the birthday remain
liked IS matter difficult 10 explain.
Easter IS the festival Of festivals in the
Christian religion, yet no trace of ITS
being ordered can be found in the New
Testament nor in the writings of the
apostolic fathers. Neither Christ nor
his apostles enjOin the keeping of this
or any other festival.
In CItholic countries the day IS cele-
brated with pomp, especially in Rome
%here the great cathedral of st. Peter
as beautifully illuminated and the pope
ofhclateS at mass.
In the United States the celebration of
EASTER ana not become in any degree gen
eral until about the time of the civil
war Many Protestant churches regard
ed the Easter festival as one of the IN
situations of the Catholic church, and
Eherefore disapproved of it. But during
the war the leading dissenting Sects be-
gan to preach Easter sermons and to
decorate their churches with Easter flow
ers, and now all, or nearly all Christian
churches in the United States, prospect
I've of title or designation, celebrate the
day by adjoining the pulpit or some por-
zion Gt the sanctuary with hOWerS typical
of the resurrection of the Savior
So potent in its influence, appealing. as
the Easter celebration does, to the sense
of the beautiful and to the appreciation
OF the harmony of nature, it is small
wonder that society Joined the church In
observing Easter day During the Lenten
period 1t gave up all social functions,
pdIICS, DdllS, etc, ana rested. with the
advent of Easter begins the spring sea-
son Of society. And this means a busy
time net only for the -Four Hundred, :"
but those who minister to their material
needs and luXuries. Then comes the res
tival of the spring bonnet, ard the conse-
Quent harvest for the milliners. Then are
the dressmakers and tailors, caterers and
flower dealers the busiest people in the
community. The florists are especially so.
A profusiOn of Easter lilies, palms, white
roses, hydrangea blossoms, white splrea,
azaleas and white hyacinths can be found
in all the florist establishments They
are used chiefly for church decoration.
though there is a large demand for them
nv nriNate families