The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-05-17

Vi pagan origin antedating recorded
history. For example, the fashion pa
rade which marks the day in large
cities undoubtedly had its beginning in
4 the superstition that bad luck for the
4 coming year was the lot Of the person
a ItIilng to put on some single new
a item of dress. 1t was many years be-
Il lore the Christian world gave Chris
n TAN significance to pagan rites Of
Hcelebration that it could not root out.
III Easter probably derives its Teutonic
|4lame from the festival of the goddess
|ostara, in Anglo-Saxon Eastre, which
Hne Saxons of old were wont to cele-
pirate about the same season. The
Pnglo-SaXon name of April was Estor-
lhonath and it is still known in Ger
rany as Ostermonat. With her usual
FIlcy the church endeavored to give
christian significance to such of the
nles as could not be rooted out, and
tnls case the conversion was par
Mularly easy. Joy at the rising of
ne natural sun and at the awakening
nature from the death Of winter be-
dine JOY at the rising Of the sun Of
n RhteOusness, at the resurrection Of
N 0rist from the grave,
as Inc proper time for the celebration
as IdEaster has Occasioned no little con-
ted u~ersy. In the second century a dis
the pue arose on this point between the
ul eRern and western churches. The
Jay snt mass OF eastern Christians Gel
ma MED Easter on the fourteenth day
Of the first Jewish month, consider
II It to be equivalent to the Jewish
Of Psnover. The western churches cele-
I'll faed it on the Sunday after the four
'uf Iseth day. holding that 1t was the
islnMemoration of the resurrection Of
isl!eE. The council of Nice 1925 A. d.
be- lcedded 1t in favor Of the western
lat lusae. This, however, only settled the
point that Easter ought to be held not
Onl upon certain day Of the month or
,utt moon but on Sunday. It vas debat-
ierled 1t the time Of the introduction
ed he Gregorian calendar, whether
oil East9 should continue to be movable
he lor whether fixed Sunday, after the
Va l2lS VI March, should not be adopted.
he Inc ule now is that Easter day Is
ng always the first Sunday after the full
moon which happens upon or next
nd litter March 81; If the full moon hap
he pens upon a Sunday, Easter day is
Of fe Sunday after.
he The result of this origin, adapta
fits don and regulation Of Easter Is that
Ice setty much all the world may cele-
he nate the day, and from wide vari-
nd ty Of motives. Whether 1t happens
he afly or late, Easter always has a re-
m. htion to spring which time has sane
is toned Ia a curious diversity Of ways.
Of y the social sense, Easter unlocks
he wiring. 1t opens the door to new
season. Fashion has taken the lib
of 6u Of making 1t dividing line over
ig- Which Il likewise takes the liberty OF
his Sepping whenever it chooses. In a
he 0nrch sense the day holds the high
he pstfy and profound religious signifi-
&C. Once which the day derives from the
ff- rdurection. Thus from many sides
nd tfe day acquires a color OF new hopes
nd aud expectations. The period OF Lent
Of eliminates in a fervid aspirational
'se Celebration. As the church turns from
I'm th historic tragedy of death to the
en- hape Of new life, so humanity turns
w i'm mediation to meet the splendid
symbolism of spring. Jerusalems egg
of ceremonies today are duplicated in
m picturesque variation by chlldIens
he spef6 like those that have been held
es eVer year on the White House
Elk groands The opening, door means
at many different things to many different
of peoples Just as the Great War affected
n d' Hefently the scattered races OF the
ot world
st. Differen. From Any other.
to Easter Of 1910 in one respect is diff
ne 1e1Gt from any of its predecessors.
re II comes at the end CT the greatest