Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-20
KISSING IN RUSSIA
IT is ESPECIALLY PRACTICED AT
EASTER TIME.
Oscillation Plays Important Part in
the Life of the Subjects Of
the Gear.

From the New York Tribune.
1t is interesting to see how prominent
part kissing plays in Russian life. After
every meal in strangers house the guest,
If he be a man. approaches his hostess as
she rises from the table. and. while thank
ing her for her hospitality, bends over her
hand to kiss it. simultaneously she leans
forward and touches the top of his head
with her lips.
A court beauty confessed to me, how
ever, that she invariably made a mere pre-
tense Of doing this. she very much OBJ
jected TO the various brands of hair oil with
which her lips would come in coptact. My
own experience IS. though, that the custom
is conscientiousy carried out.
- And then again, if lady gives her servant
whether man woman. present of any
kind her hand is at once seized and COW
cred with fervent kisses. You Will see chill
Gren kissing their mothers hand most de-
votedly on many occasions in course of
the day.
At Easter.
But It is at Easter time that one sees a
plethora of kissing. The moment the sound
Of the twelve strokes oft midnight on Easter
eve has died away, sounds of kissing take
it's place. and these continue all the follow
ing day. Every acquaintance met, be it
man or woman. is saluted with the words,
Christ is risen" and receives three kisses
while he or she returns the answer, He is
risen indeed!'
l have even seen officers kissing their
soldiers; a generals aid-de-Camp kissing
his chiefs pretty daughter then l have
wished to be Il Russian myself: two corpu~
lent old priests. trying to reach each otheI,
and many other homogeneous couples. all
going through this amiabe ceremony.
The English governess (of whom there are
many in Russia has a hard time of it at
FL "a p1a1p rei1 tiVpS of nnnilS take
care to assure her that 1t would be insult
ing to refuse to allow them punctilouslv 70
carry out this religious ceremony. one
young woman whose acquaintance 1 mdue
at the house of high official had to run
the gauntlet of half a dozen aids-de-camp
who We're waiting for her as she left the
private chapel, after attending the midnight
service with her pupils. AS one might sup"
pose, the ordeal varies much according to
cirCumstances-and persons.
Easter is the greatest holiday of the year
in Russia, and for three days all shops are
closed and all business is at q standstill.
The days are spent in feasting, drinking
and visiting.
Refreshments for Callers
Most elaborate refreshments are provided
for the numerous callers. One may behold
on the sideboard whole roast sucking pigs,
huge hams decorated with pink and white
designs. various tall ''pakas,' some of them
rich and made of cream and nuts, others
simpler with pink. blue and yellow sugar
roses and white lambs perched on the top.
Fresh caviar IS a matter of course, as
we'll smoked salmon, sturgeon mayon
naise and q dozen other cold dishes, be-
sides many kinds of wines and liqueurs
which stand ready on a long side table,
that each visitor may help himself he
comes.
Every year on the Monday after Easter
Russian cemeteries present an almost riot
Gus appearance. All the families of the
q Ia ir RI hn of hot
departed and feast in honor of the dead.
Priests make the rounds of the cemetery, a
cart following them. and in return for
blessing each grave they receive the best of
the eggs and ''paska." This ''paska' is a
light. sweet cake, about the shape of a tall
silk hat, and the paschal lamb is repre-
scented on the top in white sugar.
The graves within the little Enclosure,
marked with sky blue crosses are often
provided with wooden benches and tables,
and here the relatives feed on brightly coll
ored eggs chunks of 'paska' and copiOus
libations of vodka.
Gay songs are heard on all sides and
sometimes dancing may be seen. often
times by evening general drunkenness
prevails, resulting in much fraternal hug
ging and kisSing-for Russians become af-
fectionate when drunk and not quarrel
some. The afniable rioters are helped by
the extremely lenient police on their home
ward journeys.
New Year day is one of the innumer-
able Russian official holidays and all the
banks, shops and business houses are then
closed, and 1t Is the custom to devote the
entire day TO making an annual round of
visits.
Every woman stays at home to receive
visitors, while every man of her acouafnt-
ance Is supposed to call or send his card
The official who is obliged to- the society
man who desires TO or the business man
Tor whom IL IS expedient conscientiouslv to
go through his list of aCquaintances-all
have to begin early or late. IT being GUS
tomary for women TO receive during the
whole day.
Forest Fire Patrol