The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-04-21
|Da4s;s: s 8 i &; Z d d e 4

The proper time for the celebration
versy in the early church, the great
mass of the Eastern Christians cele-
brating the feast upon the 14th of the
first Jewish month, or moon-the
date of the Passover; the Western
Christians celebrated it on Sunday
following the 14th day, claiming that
this more nearly commemorated the
resurrection Of Christ. In S25 the
Council of Nice decided in favor of
the Western usage, and branded the
Eastern custom as the "quarto-deci-
men heresy."
The time of Easter being the most
ancient and important of all movable
feasts of the Christian Church, de-
termines all the rest. Under the ex-
listing arrangement, Easter Sunday
never can be earlier than March 20
nor later than April 25. More than
any other day of Christian obser-
vance it is connected with feas and
customs which antedate the birth of
Christ.
11oAuO llOA LAC JCWAoh 1CotiNoi
which marked this time of year, al
most every country and every people
had its own peculiar rites with which
to usher in the spring; and many pa
gan customs and superstitions there
fore are interviewer with the celebra-
ton of Eastertide.
The Saxons and Angles celebrated
the time as sacred to the Goddess Os-
tara, and some part of her worship,
taken over by the more austere Chris
tians, survives still in the springtime
festivals, especially in the countries
Of Northern Europe. or a long time
the Christian Easter was an eight-day
thanksgiving, approximating the time
devoted by the pagans to their cele-
bration. 1t was afterward cut down
to three days, then to Two. and finally
dwindled to a single day, commemor-
alive of the resurrection. Almost
every county in England, Scotland,
Ireland and Wales has its own pecu-
liar custom of superstition rela-
tive to the season. And in most of
them the egg, typical of birth, had
Its place as a special token and SYM
boil of Easter. Undoubtedly the col
oring of eggs and so-called "egg roll
fngs" originated in a most curious
game of ecclesiastical ball played
with eggs in the churches of Eng
land in the Middle Ages by the
monks.
These eggs were colored red, in
allusion 20 tie blood shed for sim
ners. From the records it would APP
pear that the rules of the game va
ried in different churches, but in the
main the pastime was the same. The |
eggs were thrown from hand to hand. i
back and forth and crosswise in be-
wildering and complex figure. AS a |
missed egg means smashed egg, this |
game proved detrimental to church |
furnishings, and in time the eggs were
replaced by egg-shaped balls. the |
prizes for skillful playing still being
brightly dyed eggs.
Another pastime, which still sur |
Wives. was to roll eggs down hill, |
the one which reached the bottom in |
tact winning the rest. A survival OF |
this custom Is found in Washington. /
where the children gather in the /
White House grounds on Easter Mon
day and roll eggs down the grassy |
slope in front of the building.
Egg contests survive in many rural
parts of England. A popular game is
that of egg-smashing. Eggs are
pitted against each other in a shell
breaking contest. The owner of the
egg that cracks the other taking the
spoils home in bucket for an ONE
lette. In Northumberland. If man