Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-19


the rebirth of the spirit of the earth
itself and of man as a dweller on the
earth. Instead of calling it celebra-
ton of the resurrection of a Savior,
they celebrated the rebirth of Nature
and all her kingdom. And always there
was music.
Easter a Pagan Heritage.
Even the name, Easter, is a heritage
Of pagan times. In the cold, bleak land
Of the Norsemen they spoke of the
divinity of Spring as Ostara EASTER.
When their sun had disappeared for
months, they celebrated its return by
painting eggs with the gay colors Of
the aurora borealis. Both rabbit and
chicken. symbols of prolific reproduc-
ton, became the symbols for Easter
festivals. They have survived to the
present day as symbols for children.
The popularity of baptism at Easter
also had its origin in those times when
the long dried springs were freshly
filled with melted SHOWS of Winter and
so were consecrated to new life by
the pagans.
Fire was another natural phenomenon
that had an important part in pagan
as well as Christian celebrations.
Symbolic of the flame Of life. fresh
fires were built and the youths and
maidens desiring marriage did cere-
monial dances about them.
A most remarkable exposition of just
this thing is shown in the brilliant bal
let production of Stravinsky's lie Sacre
du Printemps" Springs conservatory +,
which was given in Philadelphia for
the first time in America last week and
is to be given in New York City Easter
Monday and Tuesday. Leopold Stokow-
ski, who conducts this work, stated that
he felt this was absolutely the ap-
propriate season for the presentation of
this work.
In the Latin countries the Easter
hearth fire is commemorated by the
devout carrying candles to the church
to be lighted at the altar and care
fully guarded as they were taken to
the home.
In Jerusalem, at the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre-actual church of the
reSurrection-the ceremony of the holy
fire that is observed on Holy Saturday is
described by an American who at
tended this service as being the most
thrilling of all the Easter services. It
seems that the Orientals believe that the
holy fire descends from heaven upon
ChriSt's tomb and is caught by the
archbishop and handed on to the
believers through a hole near the door.
The worshiper nearest the hole
through which the candles lighted with
the consecrated flame are handed carries
them from the Greek patriarch to the
archbishop when a great bell is tolled.
Then it is that the struggling mass ,of
picturesque Orientals scramble ex-
citedly to light their individual candles,
and a great smoke arises from the
thousands of flaming tapers.
The Sunrise Easter Service.
try from the Palatinate a beautifully
simple musical service for Easter that is
distinctly their own. The trombone
choir in each Moravian community
plays resurrection chorales at actual
sunrise in the cemeteries and the en-
tire congregation gathers about its choir
in silent prayer.
special sunrise service will be given
tomorrow at Walter Reed Hospital. with
sacred band music by the United States
Army Band and vocal music by a
double quartet of prominent Wash
ington singers
From even pagan times sacred music
has been dominant feature of Easter
celebrations. Music for the little chill
dren is most important of all. Most
OF the local churches have morning or
afternoon services especially for their
little folks. This particular subject
was touched upon earlier this week by
Mrs. Grace w. Mabee of Los Angeles,
chairman Of religious music on the
board of the National Federation of
Music Clubs, when she was honor guest
at luncheon here. She said:
Junior choirs throughout the coun-
try are becoming great mediums for i'm
planting spiritual values in the growing
child. Music is necessary to moral and
mental development for balanced char
acter. 1t is the universal language and
the sooner that every village, town,
city and State realizes its value in
welfare programs, just so much sooner
will the appreciation of fine, cultural
things be enhanced"
The churches of Washington seem to
have endeavored more earnestly this
year than ever before to honor this
greatest and most sacred festival in
royal fashion with worthy music.
Cantatas and oratorios have been given
careful rehearsal. The simpler music
programs featuring anthems and carols
in which the congregation can join
unstintedly in swelling melodies is
equally dignified. All the music chosen
shows the patterned harmonies that
outline so beautifully the hinges on
that invisible door of death.