Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1894 — EASTER KISSES IN RUSSIA. [ARTICLE]

EASTER KISSES IN RUSSIA.

On That Day Even a Peasant May Salute a Princess with His Dtps. There are records of very many curious Easter customs. In Russia, every female, even a princess, must submit to be kissed by the lowest boor who presents her with an egg; but in some parts of England a still more curious, and, if possible, more senseless custom prevailed. A chair, gayly decked with ribbons and artificial dowers, is placed in front of some inn or house of public resort, upon the seat of which is a raw egg. The chair is attended by a number of gaily dressed damsels, who seize upon any man passing, and, despite his kicking and struggles, seat him with a good hard bounce upon the egg. He is then grasped by a dozen strong hands and lifted bodily, chair and all, in the air, above the heads of the assemb’ed bystanders; lowered, and raised again. This is repeated three times. Instead of being allowed to depart, however, he is embraced, perforce, and kissed by every one of the attendant graces.