The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-03-25

from an egg deposited by Leda while
in the guise of snow-white swan.
Castor and Pollux had so distinguished
themselves with Jason in search of
the golden fleece and in the Calydon
ian hunt that they were made the
deities of boxing, wrestling and all
equestrian sports. One of these twins,
Castor, was a mortal and was killed
In combat with the sons of Asphareus.
Pollux, who was immortal, implored
Jupiter to allow him to die also that
he might not be parted from his broth
er. Instead, Jupiter permitted Castor
to return to earth on condition that
Pollux would spend half his life in
hades. When Jupiter saw that the
affection of Pollux for his brother did
not hesitate at this condition he trans
lated them both to the skies where
they form bright constellation. The
position of this constellation, which
Is known as the Gemini, determined
the date of the Roman egg festival.
While some think that we may have
derived our Easter egg custom from
either Persia or Rome, others incline
to the belief that it comes to us from
the Jews, who in turn derived it from
the Egyptians. Eggs were held by
the ancient Egyptians as an emblem
of the renovation of the world after
the deluge. The Jews adopted this
emblem to their own use as type of
their deliverance from the bondage
in Egypt. 1t was because of this that
we find an egg among the articles pre-.
scribed by law to be placed upon the
table at the Pasch.
In some parts of Russia it was the
custom for every person in the parish
to give colored egg to the pastor of
the church on Easter morning. Some
of the Russians wear gold egg as an
ornament during the entire Easter
season, while the custom of making
presents of eggs is common in all
parts of the country. In Russia these
eggs are given directly, while in Ger
many it is essential that they be not
given from hand to hand; they must
be hidden and found. else no good
luck will follow.
that of rolling hard-boiled and colored
eggs ON the ground. This game is
played with few variations in nearly
all parts of Europe. In the United
States the egg rolling on the White
House lawn on Easter Monday is an
annual festival to which hundreds of
children look forward.
Another familiar Easter symbol is
the rabbit or hare. The presence of
the hare may be quite likely accounted
for by the fact that the hare has long
been the symbol of the moon, and, as
every one knows, Easter derives its
date from the moon, the Council of
Nice having decreed in 1876 that
Easter should be celebrated upon the
first Sunday following the full moon
which comes next after the 21st of
March. It is more than likely that it
is from this fact Of Easter following
the moon that we find the hare mixed
up with our Easter celebration.
In Germany the hare is usually pic.
tured sitting beside nest of colored
eggs, and on Easter every German
household boasts small image of a
hare executed in chocolate.
In the county of Warwick, England,
there was an old custom which bound
the parson Of the parish to give q
Calls head and 100 eggs to any young
man who would catch a hare and
bring it to the church before ten
o'clock on Easter morning.
From Lancashire comes an explana.
ton Of another familiar sign of Easter
the Easter lily. The beautiful Ian.
cashire myth has It that after the
resurrection the places where our
Lord trod were marked by white lilies
which sprang up and blossomed in his
footsteps. :