Eastern Utah advocate. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1895-1915, 1915-05-28
DAY
ANCIENT CUSTOM
Ceremonies Can Be Traced Back
10 the Very Earliest Days
OF Civilization.


MEMORIAL day. celebrated in nj.
lv most every state OF our Union,
has been set apart by statute as
Especial day for decorating the graves
OF the nations soldiers and for hold.
Ing appropriate exercises In their
memory. While Il originally sprang
from n spontaneous desire 10 do honor
TO the heroes who fell in the Civil
war. still II IN now celebrated in honor
OF all the soldier dead. that their hero
isms and sacrifices may never be- for
gotten.
II IL interesting 10 trace tho origin
OF this holiday. for, like many another
modern institution. Il goes back 10 tho
early days OF civilization. We have
been celebrating Il with a special aig.
nincanoo for years. and yet. upon en-
aiming II. we ind the adaptation OF
an ancient custom rather than tho or.
preston OF new idea. In fact, days
set aside for ceremonies 90 honor tho
dead are 80 intimately connected with
all races that they seem inseparable
from the practices OF civilization.
The pagan Greeks held sacred rites
NJ the graves OF their dead called zoal
and made offerings OF olives and flow.
ers. A floral wreath was placed nj the
head OF the grave. and n bloom
uprang from the mound II was con.
sldered a sign OF tho happiness OF the
departed one.
Poman Parentaila.
In Rome n similar festival was held
for several days In February. IL was
known rs the Parentalia. During this
celebration the temples we're closed
and the last day offerings we're made
At the tombs These consisted Of
milk. honey. fruit. wine and other
things. while flowers OF every variety
were used In profuse decoration.
The Drulds held a memorial service
IN the autumn on the eve OF the
Thanksgiving feast. while the ancient
people OF Japan and China had a serv-
Ice for the dead called the Feast OF
Lanterns.
After the various natioh5 embraced
Christianity this custom became more
widespread and the nature OF It's cele-
bratlon changed materially The spir.
itual side OF the day became the upper.
most feature. and this led directly 10
the founding OF All Souls day. This
Ia observed in our own country strict.
~ IN a religious manner. but In many
places IN Europe II includes the deco
ration OF flowers IN addition TO the
spiritual exercises. In France for sew
eral days before the feast wreaths and
punches OF immortelles, dyed In va
rious colors. are seen In the shop win
doWs.
After the religious services are over
the people go TO the different grave
yards laden with baskets and punches
OF flowers, and before the day IL over
these burying places are a mass OF
brilliant color Not a grave Is slight
ed, and even IN a corner OF potter's
ueld one viii find a token Of remem.
brance for the most neglected one.
Another interesting feature is the plac'
ing OF a lighted lamp at the foot OF
the graves The lamps are usually
taken 20 the graves as evening draws
on, and often the people stay and
kneel there IN silent meditation The
colored garlands and the pickering
lights present a strange and novel
sight
Al Had Graves TO Decorate.
Our Memorial day Is IN truth moth
Ing more than a secular All Souls day
II owes it's origin 10 the women OF the
South. who began the practice OF deco.
rating their graves less than two years
after the close OF the Civil war, That
utruggle OF four years had kept our
country In a constant state OF eommo-
ton and excitement. Every part OF
the nation had contributed It's men,
Young and old. to the conflict When