Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-15


world was Matched. Unfortunately, all
the learning there is does not suffice to answer
definitely the simple question why eggs should be
associated with Easter at all One explanation
is that in the fourth century the use of eggs in
Lent was prohibited, and as the heretical hens
kept on laying, as usual, a great stock OF eggs
accumulated during the period of abstinence.
To make them attractive to children and thus
get rid of the more, they were dyed with gay
colors and otherwise ornamented. With the
same cunning object, children were taught the
game of rolling eggs and the right to eat the
broken egg was given to the winner. Boiling
hard was necessary adjunct of egg-rolling and
thus everything about Easter eggs is explained.
This explanation, while ingenious is obviously
of no value, for before the Christian era pres
ents of eggs were exchanged in the spring by
Hebrews Egyptians, Gaus, Greeks, Romans Ma
gians in Persia, and other ancient peoples, and
the Christian custom is undoubtedly of heather
origin. The custom is probably connected with
the belief which made the egg the emblem of
the beginning of all things, the emblem of the
universe
AS to coloring the eggs, the early Christians
of Mesopotamia stained them red in memory
of the blood of Christ. Doubtless some such
significance attached to the decorating of all eggs
before the intention became to make them as
attractive as possible In some districts of France
it is customary for the priest of the parish to
go round to each house at Easter and bestow on
it his blessing. In return he receives eggs, both
plain and painted.
In the same district the idea prevails that the
bells Of the churches are not heard in Holy
Week, because they have gone to Rome to get
the blessing of the Pope They bring back with
them, presents to good children, eggs dyed
scarlet, like the cloak of a Roman cardinal.
Another French superstition is that on Easter
4 - locf h. lz1I-
gels deposit baskets of eggs in the houses of the
faithful. Sometimes evil spirits slyly slip ac-
cursed eggs into these baskets, and great mis-
chief is the result.
In Savoy lad and maid who executed the
egg dance on Easter Monday without breaking
a single egg, became betrothed beyond the power
of objecting parents to prevent their union, and
it is related that Philibert the Handsome, Duke
of Savoy, became affanced to Margaret of Aus
tria in this manner.
Formerly France ransacked for the largest
eggs, which were covered with gliding, blessed by
the priest after the Easter high mass celebrated
before the king, and distributed among the cour-
tiers France is still fond of wonders in the
way of eggs, although the product of the hen is
no longer highly esteemed for purposes of Easter.
The hand-painted works of art in cardboard or
sugar, which made in Paris, known to
ALL
This year they presented not in baskets
as often as in imitation gamelles, the French sol
diers bowl for soup and stewed meat. This is
a delicate alhsion to the Duke of Orleans and
his military aspirations. The gameles are made
of copper, silvered tin, or silvery cardboard.
The most costly of Easter eggs is stated to have
been made for the late King Alfonso of Spain.
1t was of white enamel was beautifully painted,
contained mechanical bird which sang twelve
airs. and cost $4,000 In Germany the taste is
much simpler. For some reason or other, at
Faster time children believe implicitly in the
eggproducng power of the hare, and a common
form of Easter present is a nest of eggs with
hare sitting on them.