Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-30


ter requiring great nicely Of calcula-
ton, and so, as the Egyptians were
skilled in astronomical matters, this
was left for long time to the Alex
andrian see to decide.
The rules decreed that the 21st OF
March should be regarded as the YER
nal equinox.
The full moon happened upon or
next after the 21st of March should
be regarded as the full moon Of the
month of Nissan.
The first Lords day after that full
moon should be observed as Easter
day.
If the full moon CHANGED to fall on
Sunday, the next Sunday should be
Easter day.
AS all the movable feasts and fasts
depend on Easter, uniformity Of time
in it's observance was an important
matter The rules adopted by the
Nicene council makes it possible for
it to fall upon any Sunday of five
weeks, commencing with March % and
ending with April Is.
The name Easter is derived from
the name of the Saxon goddess of
spring, Eostre, Eastre, or Ostera, and
may be traced back to the Phoenician
moon goddess, Astarte, so often asso-
ciated with hte hare in Eastern myths.
Hence. perhaps, the use Of the hare
in connection with the Easter eggs,
which it is said to lay.
Some think the name comes from
the word oster, which means rising,
and to Christians it of course, is
commemorative of the rising of Christ
from the dead.
The month dedicated to the spring
goddess of the Saxons was the fourth
month, which answers to our April
and her festival was held in honor OF
the opening of the natural year, to
commemorate the setting free of the
natural forces of termination and
growth which the winter had chilled
and crucified.
Each nation has had its own Easter
customs, but many of them can be
traced back to the ancient spring fes-
rivals welcoming the return of the
sun. In the church it is one of the
three great Christian feasts, and has
been known as the Queen of Festivals
and the Lord of Days 1t is ushered
in by vigil and fastingj but is, itself,
a time of rejoicing. In the olden days
a relic of the fire worshiping time
could be found in the kindling of
new and pure fires, after the old ones
had been extinguished, from the Pas
chal candle, the great and sacred can
die which often weighed hundreds Of
pounds. The washing of the feet of
others by high dignitaries of church
and state was, of course, done in
memory of Christ's washing the feet
of the apostles.
Music, candles, bonfires, flowers,
miracle plays, the pealing of bells,
the exchange of gifts, the liberation
of prisoners, the setting free of slavs,
the giving of aims or maunds, the
playing of games, some of them rude
and rough enough endeed, during Eas-
ter week-these set apart the season
from others.
Certain articles of food, such as tan
sy cake, IMPLYING the bitter herbs,
and hot cross buns and custards were
eaten in England. In Ireland the
peasants rose early to see the sun
in stream of water, as they did.
Most of the ruder sports have died
out, but the note of gladness in its OBJ
servance still dominates, though
sounded in gentler fashion.
And the solemn observance of the
church, made beautiful by an impress
sive ritual invested with all that light
and color and sound can add to a cere-
mony, inspire the faithful with the
thought that once again light and life
have triumphed over death and dark
ness.