Evening star., 1938-04-03
Present Way of Observing Lent
Believed Dating to 9th Century
Emphasis Hundreds of Years Ago
Apparently Vas Placed on
Giving of Aims.

probably was a special incentive to
appear in colorful and festive Easter
Sunday garb by way Of joyful contrast.
We of America are accustomed to
thinking Of Mothers Day as an insti-
tuition particularly our own. It is,
however, probably carry over from
the Lenten "Mothering Sunday" OF the
British Isles. On the fourth Sunday
in Lent, it was the custom for the girls
who were in service in the various par
ishes of the Church of England to 60
on a holiday to visit their mothers,
carrying gifts of small cakes called
"simnel," not unlike pork pies in
shape and rich plum pudding in taste.
Even in Gloucestershire. USk and Mon
mouth shires or counties in England
this custom of ''mothering" is scrupu-
lously observed at present with Sim
nel' still being brought by the daugh-
ters as tribute Of affection and re-
spect to their mothers.
Origin Of COLLATION..
or Lenten origin is our use of the
word cola ton" to signify repast
that Is somewhat out OF the ordinary
in its nature. 1t was originally used to
signify draught of water or other
beverage used to quench the thirst of
those In monaStic order exhausted
by manual labor. Collations were first
tolerated at the hour at which the
collations or religious conferences of
the Abbot Cassion were being held,
prior to the breaking of the days fast,
and were looked upon as indulgences.
In Germany during the middle ages
exceptions were permitted to the rules
requiring abstinence from meat, eggs
and milk-"the lactcinia." as they were
designated - provided those granted
these indulgences made generous do
nations to worthy church causes. AS
result several churches were built
with butter briefe," contributions
from those who had the WhereWithal
to pay for their sin Of yielding to the
temptation of eating newly laid egg
or two or generous pat of golden
butter on their wheaton loaf upon a
Lenten fast day.
Similarly, because of like indul-
gences, one of the most beautiful of
all the Steeples in the Rouen Cathe-
dral is dubbed the butter tower"
since its erection was made possible
by those who craved butter during the
4p days OF fasting during Lent and
paid in aims to the cathedral which
was rising in their midst for the graft
flcatlOn OF their desire
Easter Eggs Significance.
From Germany, too, in all likeli-
hood, We derive our emphasis upon the
Easter eggs significance among chill
dren and certain Old World customs
OF blessing the egg at Easter.
1t Is also thought that the English
use OF pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
the day before Ash Wednesday, a Gus
tom brought to this country by our
/ English forbears, was due to the very
natural desire to have one last indul-
gence in these delicacies mixed I'D with
an egg batter and served plentifully
dotted with butter before their prin-
cipal ingredients were taboo for Lent.
The practice of Easter vacation
time in schools primarily owes its vigor
to the fact that pupils could not be
expected to attend classes on Holy
Thursday and Good Friday on account
OF their religious duties in connection
with these Lenten days of commemo-
ration and were not likely to do so on
Easter Monday. Gradually it became
heightened to its present duration of
from week to 10 days and in some
cases to two weeks.