The Colorado statesman., 1912-04-06


thought is expressed in warm en-
braces among friends.
During all of Easter Day, the Rus
sian peasants visit among their
friends, exchanging the joyous greet
ing with each acquaintance, Christ is
risen," to which the other responds,
''He is risen, indeed!" followed by the
triple kiss on either cheek and fore
head.
Yet even here is the trace of pagan
ism in the use of the Easter egg,
which was the symbol to the pagan OF
new life. On the round of visits each
guest presents a colored egg to the
hostess, receiving one in return, with
refreshments thrown in.
In most Christian countries the joy
of Eastertide is shown in music and
flowers. Every church makes special
preparation for the great day, but
probably nowhere in the world is such
music heard as in st. Peters, in Rome,
of which Mrs. Humphry Ward has CIV
en- us so impressive a description in
Eleanor.
Besides the flower-banked churches
the newer custom OF marking Easter
tide with flowers in the window of
each house is one of much beauty and
symbolism. When in palace and tene-
ment alike there is a common bond of
commemorative Easter flowers to
greet the passer-by, the classes cannot
be so far apart as the pessimist
thinks.
In Catholic countries the JOY Of Eas-
ter is less impressive than the solemn
observances of Good Friday The
churches are thronged with reverent
worshipers, the procession commemo-
rative of the Crucifixion, the burning
of Judas in effigy, so common a prac-
tice in Portugal, Greece, Mexico and
South American countries, all bear
witness that despite scoffers the story
of The Cross with the joyous Resur-
rection is not deemed myth.
1t is said that Portuguese sailors In
whatever port they may be on Good
Friday at sundown commit Judas to
the waves as the sailors sing the An
gelus. And there are those who say
Christianity is passing.
Less religious in it's symbolism is
the universal Easter-egg. beloved OF
children.
Young America with his Easter bas-
ket or Easter hunt this morning, does
not think that the Parsee children
have eggs distributed to them at their
spring festival; that the small Hun
garians sprinkle their girl friends with
rosewater and in return receive gifts
of eggs; that French children in coun-
try districts will today make round
of visits begging for red eggs; while
the little Russians will, for every gift
of red egg, set free a Gagged canary.
The Easter bunny is another GUS
tom borrowed from Pagan times, as
the hare was associated with the moon
and new life.
1t may be from the firm belief of
small Germans that If they are very
good the white hare will steal into the
house on Easter Eve and hide beauti-
full colored eggs, that young Americans
feel their Easter celebration is incom-
plete without their Dummies. toy or real,
candied or painted.
A curious, but less common belief is
that the sun dances with Joy as 1t
IloSS On luS ueiy VI IltouIItCllOA ouE
forefathers utilizing pagan worship of
the sun taught that in it was seen
an emblem of the Sun of Righteous
ness risen on Eastern morn. There
are certain parts of Europe, where to-
day the people rise early to climb the
hill to watch for this phenomenon.
However. it may be kept, whether
with heartfelt worship or perfunctory
following Of long custom, this Easter
morning finds the world united in cele-
bration Of that great day that brought
Joy and hope to small band of men
and women, weeping for lost leader
whom they called The Christ-unul
their faith was tested by the dire trag-
edy of the Cross.
The Joy Of that long gone Easter
morn has grown with the ages, until
its radiance is felt the world over,
even by those who do not call them
selyes believers in the Risen Lord"