Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-03-29

from Ash Wednesday until uastr.
The hens, however, were No Len In
dustrious in Lenten days than nj other
times, so they kept On laying The
good hens, Of course. could not know
about cold-storage warehouses e they
might have laid up riches for them
selves. But their thrifty owners saved
as many Of the eggs as they could and
dyed them for thor childrea 10 aAuGe
themselves with at Easter.
1t was the custom in England n 10
early time for rulers to give presents
OF eggs to their c0urtierS 1t 1aster.
and In Russia M many of tlAe people ~
could went to kiss the hand of the
empress and to receive the gift u
decorated porcelain egg. In the same
country on the morning Of Naster the
servants brought baskets cf eggs'to the
churches to be blessed. These were
afterward eaten. kept - amuiets or
given away. In Italy almost every
one brings eggs to be blessed, and
presents are made Of other eggs 10 the
priest who comes at that season to
sprinkle the houses with holy water
and to give his blessing.
In former times In France eggs were
tribute to the king at Easter. and the
largest and finest were reserved for
him. During the reigns Of Louis XIV
and XIV after mass on Easter Sunday
the courtiers received gifts Of gilded
eggs.
Bells Travels to Rome.
There was an old tradition that the
church bells went to Rome to be
blessed at Easter, and that they brought
back with them eggs dyed like car
dinal's cloak to prove that they had
really been there. Though how the
bells managed it no one seemed to
know.
There was also the idea that angels
came down at Easter bringing baskets
of eggs for the faithful, and occa-
sionally great trouble was caused by
some one of the angelic baskets con-
tanning an egg of doubtful character.
This naturally was most disturbing
and what was done in such cases is
difficult to surmise.
There were many Easter games and
customs, such as The English country
custom of the women lifting the men
and the men the women on Easter
Monday and Tuesday to receive piece
Of silver money and kiss for pay.
We must not forget Paris in our men
ton of Easter celebrations. All the
week Of Easter women used to go
about the streets, and perhaps they
still do, with barrows piled high with
colored eggs, generally red and white,
and the people of the city used to call
it the week of the eggs.
Years ago there was a curious game
played at Bresse, when among the
spectators on one Easter were Mar
guerite of Austria, then gouvernante Of
Flanders, and Philibert the Fair of
Savoy 1t was the custom to scatter
on a level, sandy place 100 eggs Then
a lass and a lad would take each other
by the nand and dance the national
dance in and out among the eggs If
they succeeded in executing it properly
W1CnOuL DIelhulS q s4tAStS SGS lhCS
we're considered betrothed, even il
their parents should object. On this
occasion, when royalty was present,
three couples one after the other failed
in their attempt, but Austria and Savoy
succeeded. whereupon the story goes
that Philibert said, "Let US adopt the
custom of Bresse" The princess let
her hand remain in his, and so they
were married.
But now this egg hunt leads US to.
the fact that Washington Is not
first nor only place in he world whel
they roll. eggs on Easter Monday. 1t
is an old, old custom. Boys and girls
used to do it In many an English vii
lage and town. There was an old song
which they sang as they played and It
bore the refrain:
"Garland, parland. haste egg day"