The Springfield herald., 1913-03-21

legacy with instructions to the church wardens
to distribute colored eggs to communicates on
Easter morning. That entails giving away about
600 of these eggs.
Many ceremonies and sports distinguished the
celebration of Easter in olden times In a royal
roll of the time of Edward preserved in the
tower. appears entry Of is pence for 400 eggs
to be used for Easter gifts Town authorities
engaged with due dignity In games of ball. In
the northern parts OF England the men paraded
the streets Easter Sunday and claimed the
privilege of lifting every woman they met three
times from the ground. receiving in payment
kiss silver sixpente The same was done
by the women to the men the next day 1t is re-
corded also that on Easter Monday the women
had right to strike their husbands and on Tues
day the men struck their wives as In December
the servants scolded their masters From Ger
man authority 1T is learned that in the Neumark
Easter day the men servants whip the maid
servants with switches and on Monday the maids
whip the men. In some parts of Germany par
ents and children try to surprise each other in
bed Easter morning to apply the healthgiving
switches
= In Palestine Easter is the day when relatives
and friends exchange gifts and 1t is the family
reunion day much is Christmas In America.
On Easter grand mass Is celebrated at IL
o'clock midnight, at which all present receive
the Lords supper. After the service, which lasts
about four hours. the crowds go home to break
their fast and feast on the dainties prepared be-
fore hand. In the morning visits are exchanged
between relatives and friends, the younger peo-
pie go to the older people first to wish them a
bright Easter and many happy returns. About
p. grand patriarchal procession walks to the
church Of the Holy Sepuchre singing those melo-
dious Gregorian songs. The scene is particularly
imposing. There follows a service In the
Greek cathedral at which the gospel for Easter
day Is read In all the leading languages of the
world.
The first person to salute the of Russia
Easter morning with the words Christ is Risen"
must be greeted In turn with royal kiss. No
matter how lowly the person-the meanest of
beggars, even-the great czar must bestow upon
him brothery kiss. Not many Casters ago
the compelled by this inexorable
tom to kiss the cheek OF peasant sentry. sta
toned in the garden to which the had
capped for early morning walk.
The Spaniards believe that he who is born on
Good Friday has the gift of second sight They
delight to tell that Philip " secondsightc1
because he came into the world this day
Spanish women, well as many English country
women, declare that sewing done Good Fri
day will never come undone
I By many European peasants the wind is watch
ed on Palm Sunday, in the belief that from what
ever direction 1t then blows, thence 1t will come
most frequently during the ensuing year The
palm, blessed and used in church procession
on Palm Sunday, fastens II to the balcony of his
house for protection from lightning
An interesting Easter egg custom prevails in
Poland. On Easter Monday every head of n
house. woman presents each visitor
his call with hardboiled egg, or. rather the