Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-04-18
EAsTER-ITs ORIGIN AND Gus
TOMS.

Winter has lts ChrlstmSS autumn lts
Thanksgiving, summer its Fourth of
July, but the choicest season OF the
year was reserved for the Christian =
most joyful celebration.
For the crucifxion to have occurred
at anv other season than this, much OF
it's significance would have been lost.
As it is, the smallest details blend in
making harmonious whole.
The name itself, Easter, comes to us
from the Anglo-Saxon Esstre and
Ostars. meaning The goddess OF spring,
and corresponds 10 the Jewish feast OF
the Passover, which was celebrated st
the same time of the year In the
early days of the church much oissen-
sion arose as to lhe proper time Of cele-
brating Easter. After centuries of dis
pute, a season WAS foslly established,
to which all the Christian churches,
excepting those of Russia, Greece and
Oriental countries, generally, conformed,
with the consequence that they are
keeping Easter Just q fortnight later
than the rest of the Christian world.
Many beautiful as we'll "a humorous
us'oms have allied themselves TO this
season, nearly all of which will be
found to have originated with Pagan
nations. The custom of rolling eggs is
bv no means a modern one, and we
read Of children in the north of Eng
land, who not only roll them but throw
them like balls. Here, too, it is cus-
tomsry to give eggs TO ones friends on
that day, and it is common practice
to trace upon the egg, with piece OF
tsllow, the initial of the one for whom
it is a designed, after which it is
dropped in boiling water that has been
previously colOred, and when it comes
out the egg will have taken the color
of the dye everywhere except where the
tallow has been traced, leaving that
pure white.
The day in Russia is something like
New Yesr's Day here. The people call
upon their friends, each visitor giving an
egg to his host with this greeting
"Jssus Christ is risen" the hest reply
ing, "Yes, He is Risen" ."
The Irish watch Lent depart with
much merriment, and on Easter morn
are up early "lO see the sun dance in
honor of the resurrection.
Ii is general custom for people to ap-
pear in their new spring clothes on
Easter Day, which, in all probability. is
The outcome OF an Old-time superstition
that one must wear. at least, one article
that is new, else bad luck will follow all
the year, sprOpcs of which, we read in
sn old English ballad this couplei;
AT Easter let your clothes be new,
Or els you will it surely rue"
On Tut sday after Easter, in certain
localities, wives we're allowed to beat
their husbands, but it is doubtful whether
this privilege WAS used TO any extent, IN
spite of the satisfaction it might have al
iorded some wives, because, on the fol-
lowing day the husbands were allowed
to return it.
Nowhere, however, is Easter celebrst-
ed with greater festivities thau at the
national capital, where, on hat day,
for many years, the White House grounds
have been opened TO receive thousands
of little people, each one carrying
bs sket Of beautifully colOrej eggs They
begin to gather before noon, some bring
ing lunches with them, sLd for few
hours egg-rolling in the order of the day
10 the afternoon the Marine Band arrives
| ard gives a concert, and while these
privileges are extended to the childreI
vet many older people enjoy going.
1t is scene beyond description, tn
setting, to begin with, being one OF un
usual loyeliness st this time OF year, an
with the White House for background
and the gaily dressed children hittinl
about like butterflies, makes picIur
to which nothing could be added. Th
president always comes out on the bsl
cony and sometimes takes turn or tn
about the grounds. Another feature
Washington. Easter is the splendi
A ,wer display at the different markets
The regular flower booths are gorgeousl
decorated with flowers in season and ou
of season, which are, in some inslsncei
arranged in effective designs.
The most picturesque display, how
ever, is outside the market, where score
of quaint old coloTed suuties sit, SON
sereuely smoking their pipes amidst grei
, punches of trailing srbutus, wild violel'
myrtle, etc. ,
/ once knew two little German girl
twin.sistess, whose mother had told the
a pretty little story about the rabbit th
!, laws Easter eggs. They lived in a hou
with q large garden in which numb
of bushes grew.
( On EssIer morning their mother to
them to go out and see if they could nj
4 the rabbits nest. ,.,. j.,
While they we're hunting diligentl
out from a clump OF bushes jumped
sure enough rabbit. 1t was quesli'
as to which was the most excited L
= rabbit or the children. They spproac
ed the place after a few minutes, a.
were excited still more, upon disooVe
ing nest of beautiful eggs-red, purp
yellow and even green-which IN
firmly believed had been laid oy
rabbit they had seen.
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