The Goodland republic., 1907-03-15

chal. OF pasous sggz as ven Is East
er eggs
When the early Christians began to
observe Easter as a Christian festival
q controversy as 70 the time OF Its
observance, known as the Paschal
controversy, and extending from the
second to the fourth centuries. arOss-
The Easter churches kept II at the
same time as the Jewish Passover,
the 14th day OF the Jewish lunar
month OF Nisan, which most often
corresponds to our month Of APRIL
though sometimes synchrOnOus with
March. The western churches thought
that II should be identified with Sun
day, and observed it on the Sunday
following the 18th day OF Nisan- At
the beginning OF the fourth century,
the Emperor Constantine succeeded in
having a canon passed by the ecumen-
icaI council OF Nice, fixing and max
ing Uniform the date OF its ObserV-
ance, though as the rules laid down
BY this council for the date OF its OBJ
servance made II necessary to recon
Gle three periods, with no common
measure, namely, the week the lunar
month and the solar year, the deter
minsffOn OF Easter was for long
time a matter requiring great nicely
Of calculation. and So as the Egypt
fans were skilled in astronomical mat
ters, this was left for a long time TO
the AIexandrian see to decide
The rules decred that the z1st Of
March should be regarded as the yer
Hal equinox
The full moon happening upon or
next after the 21st OF March should
be REGARDED as the full moon Of the
month Of Nisan-
The first Lords day after that full
moon should be observed as Easter
day.
If the full mon chanced 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 its obsedvance was an important
matter. The rules adopted BY the
Nfcene council makes IL possible for
1t TO fall upon any Sunday OF five
weeks, commencing with March p
and ending with April 25.
The name Easter is derived from
the name o. the Saxon goddess OF
spring. Eostre, Eastre, or Ostera, and
may be traced back to the Phoneician
moon goddess, Astarte, so often assO-
cfated with the 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-
tivaIs 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 fasting, but it, itself,
a time Of rejoicing. In the Olden days
a relic Of the fire WOrshipping time
could be found in the kindling OF
new and pure fires, after the old ones
had been extfnguished, 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, bOnf1ress flowers
miracle plays, the peaIing OF bells, the
| exchange Of gifts, the liberation OF
prisoners, the setting tree OF slaves
1 the giving Of aims or maunds, the
/ playing Of games, some OF them rude
and rough enough indeed, during
Easter week-these set apart the sea
son from others
Certain articles OF food. such as
tansy cake, typifying the bitter
herbs" and hot cross buns and Gus
| tards were eaten in England. In Ire
land the peasants rose early to see the
/ sun dance, which we may do by look
/ ing in a 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 Obsedvance OF the
/ church, made beautiful by an impres-
/ 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