The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-03-22

legacy with instructions to the church wardens
to distribute colored eggs to communicates on
Easter morning. That entails giving away about
500 of these eggs
Many ceremonies and sports distinguished the
celebration of Easter in olden times, In a royal
roll of the time OF Edward I 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 o. England the men paraded
the streets on Easter Sunday and claimed the
privilege of lifting every woman they met three
times from the ground. receiving in payment a
kiss or a silver sixpente The same 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 on Easter morning to apply the health-givin
switches.
In Palestine. Easter is the day when relatives
and friends exchange gifts and it is the family
reunion day, much as is Christmas in America
On Easter grand mass is celebrated at -
o'clock midnight, at which all present receive
the Lords supper. After the service which lasts
nome
their fast and feast on the dainties prepared he
fore hand In the morning visits are exchanoad
between relatives and friends the younger peo
pie go to the older people first to wish them q
bright Easter and many happy returns About I
p. m. grand patriarchal procession walks tn the
church OF the Holy Sepulchre singing those me,o
dious Gregorian songs. The scene is particularly
imposing. There now follows a service in the
Greek cathedral at which the gospel for Easter
day Is read in all the leading languages NJ the
world
The first person to salute the car of Russia on
Easter morning with the words Christ IL Risen"
must be greeted in turn with royal kiss. No
matter how lowly the person-the meanest Of
beggars. even-the great car must bestow upon
him brotherly kiss. Not so many Casters ago
the car was compelled by this inexorable cns
tom to kiss the cheek Of peasant sentry sta
toned In the garden to which the car had o.
capped for an 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 Nv was secondsighted
because he came into the world on this day
Spanish women. as we'll as many English country.
women, declare that sewing done on Good Fri
day will never come undone
BY many European peasants the wind is watch.
ed on Palm Sunday, in the belief that from what.
ever direction 1t then blows, thence II will come
most frequently during the ensuing year The
Spaniard who Is fortunate enough to secure a
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 Oh
house. man or woman. presents each visitor on
his call with hardboiled egg. or, rather. the