Milford chronicle., 1924-04-11

AsS-aAH our customs belong to one
era and some to another
Haven't you often wondered what eggs
had to do with the Crucifxion OF
OhEist2 AS a matter Of fact, there is
no connection except an Incidental one
between the two. In pre-Christian
days folks celebrated the renewal Of
spring and sunshine at the time Of year
when Easter now comes, and the egg,
with Its suggestion Of new life, was
the most natural symbol in the world.
Christianity consecrated the idea, as 1t
lwere, by cOlOring the eggs red as a
reminder Of the blood split on the
prOBs-a custom which survives In
France to this day.
The hot cross bun is another curious
blend Of heather superstition and
Christian symbolism. Many centuries
before Christ little round lOaves were
baked and marked with q cross; some
were even discovered in the ruins of
HeFculaneum, one Of the ancient Ital-
Ian cities which was buried by an erup-
0On Of Mount Vesuvius and afterwards
uncovered and explored. Some say
that these cakes were sacrificed and
iohered as an act of worship to the
heather gods Of the day, particularly
20 the moon, called the queen Of
heaven.
Others assert that the cooks Of that |
day were as practical as the tOfFee-
maker Of ours, who mark the toffee !
into small squares, so that It will break
up more easily when cold.
Then came the Christians, who saw
In this bread marked with their own
sacred symbol a fit association with
Easter. They made their Good Friday
cakes from dough first used for the
Host, and the buns were blessed by
the priest and given out at the end Of
service In church. WOrshipers rever-
emily kissed the cross before eating
the symbols, and believed that the eat
ing Of one would keep them from harm
untH next Easter.
Fer the same reason it used to be
customary to hang a bun up in q house
tS bring good luck, just as the horse
shoe is set ever q doorway. In par
Gieular 1t was supposed to guard the
house from hre-a real menace in the
days when houses were Of wood and
thatched with straw and fire engines
almost unknown.
Were you born on Good Friday?
Legend has It that anyone so blessed
possesses the gift Of second sight. And
u you have sufficient fOrtitude to turn
vegetarian just for Easter Sunday, an
Did superstition promises you good
health for q twelvemonth. It seems a
small price for so long a benefit,
doesn't III
Another way Of insuring good health,
which Is much more drastic, but was =
often practiced in Olden days by spar 0
an maidens, was to leave a linen Z
10th out in a field all night, so that 1t l.
leeame soaked with the cold spring
lew. Then they washed themselves a
III over with the clear, chilly moisture u
Another quaint superstition Is the P
atheF ridiculous custom of lifting or T.,
leaving, which is still practiced in u
ONE parts of the country. On Easter Z"
1onday the men lift the women, and
n Easter Tuesday the women lift or o.
cave the men. The process is per .,
ormed by two lusty men or women ~ ~
0ining their hands across each others II
'rtsts; then, making the person to g, 81
e heaved sit down on their arms, they VI
# him up alOft two or three times '"
nd often carry him several yards 'e
long a street. In other parts the men sc
aim the privilege of taking off the
Omen's shoes on Eastern Monday, ", Un
I'D the next day the women retaliate. az ~