Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08

In the first ages of the Christian Church
Easter was celebrated as the chief festival
OF the year. The original Greek name of
this feast was derived from the name of
the Jewish Passover. This is retained In the
Latin Dies Paschae." and in the French
'Paque." Easter eggs are called basque
eggs in the north of England, a survival Of
Norman French. The English term Easter
is traceable to the days of the Venerable
Bede. who in his "Eccleciastical History
derives it from the name of Saxon god
dess, Eostre. whose festival occurred about
the time of the vernal equinox and who
was worshiped the giver of the harvests
Others have derived the word from the
Saxon verb Tristan. to rise. Urstand meant
the resurrection. In the Greek Church the
popular name of the festival Is the Bright
Day" 1t was formerly the custom in Eng
land and still is in the eastern churches, to
illuminate the churches on Easter eve. The
paschal candles were of wax, and some
times weighed much 800 pounds 1t
was tbs custom for those who had received
special blessings during the year to give Il
paSchal candle.
In the old English calendars Easter is
called ''ye upryslnge of cure Lorde." 1t
was not until the eighth century that the
festival was celebrated throughout the
whole Christian church at the same time
In the western church 1t was always kent
on Sunday. but the churches in Asia kept II
on the third day after the 14th of the Jew
ish month Nissan. This was the Jewish
rule. which aimed at keeping the actual
anniversary of the day Of the resurrection
Gas we observe Christmas, while the gem
tiles preferred to observe the Lords day
which comes next after the actual anniver-
sary.
The council of Aries. In A.-D. 314, ordered
Easter to be Observed at the same time
throughout Christcndom, and the councils
of Ntcaca. a. D. 325. ruled that it was to
be celebrated only on the Lords day, and
not on a week day. 1t was not however,
until the year ia that the computation of
the time of Easter was fully settled and
uniformly secured. The rule was then laid
down that Easter day is always the first
Sunday after the full moon which happens
upon or next after the 21st of March. If
the full moon happens on a Sunday Easter
day is the Sunday after.
Easter is to the Russian what Christmas
is to the German-a time of much joy and
feasting The orthodox Russian church.
man Is most strict In his observance of
Lent, and perhaps 1t is this rigid expert
ence of lf-denial which lends such
piquancy TO the after-festival Weeks be-
fore Easter the families throughout the
land of the ear busy themselves with col
lecting things for the Easter festival and
they occupy every spare moment In pre-
pairing for 1t. An Easter feast in Russia
usually consists of sucking pig, lamb,
shoulder of veal, a ham, curdled cream
Easter bread, red eggs, colored lights, fid-
ding and general merrymaking. In the
good old times the nobility left their tables
furnished until Whltsuntide so that anv
one who chose to enter their houses might
partake OF what was there set out nor
was food denied any one. In the few To-
calities where this ancient custom still
keeps up there is scarcely recorded case
OF the betrayal of such hospitality.
*
On Good Friday II has been the custom
for the Russians to dress In mourning, but
this is now nearly obsolete. Just before
midnight on Easter eve. you Will see Ivan
Ivanovitch and Vera Feodoreavera. the
Darby and Joan of Russia, coming forth
with platters. on which rest samples of the
food prepared for the feast so soon to come
These platters are placed on the steps OF
the church, where they may be blessed In
due season. OF course every one is expect
ed to attend the midnight mass, during
which mass only those lights may be seen
which are absolutely necessary to the carry
ing on Of the service. All the higher Of
hcfals and all the court officials in St
Petersburg are expected to attend the
mass at the Imperial Chapel, which Is in
adequate to contain q fourth their number,
so those who cannot squeeze In hang
around or parade outside, nor have they
the privilege Of entering another church
at that time At midnight the priests enter
the sanctuary all robed In white. and q
solemn professional moves up and down
through the church. Then, In the progress
OF the mass, the church is suddenly lighted
from within and without and every one
joins In the hymn of rejoicing. After this
follows the ceremony of blessing the food
ana then the first morning mass takes
place. between the hours of and 8. after
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