Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1903 — THE ORIGIN OF EASTER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE ORIGIN OF EASTER.

EASTERTIDE, the oldest church festival, conics down to us from the ancient Hebrews. With them, however, the time was not associated with the death and resurrection of Christ, but with the season of the year when the earth puts forth Its freshest blossoms and the revivification of nature—the springing forth of life In the spring. It Is from this that the Easter egg custom springs, and centuries ago, even before the birth of Christ, colored eggs woro given and received by celebrants of the feast. The egg for all time has been regarded as symbolical of the spring, when the earth receives from nature Its new life. Not only the ancient Hebrews, hut the nnclcnt Persians, employed the colored eggs In their celebrations of the feast of the solar new year. In March. Tho fact that the Anglo-Saxon name of April was Estermonath Induces some to believe that Easter Is of pure Saxon origin, but Germany, where the month Is called Ostermonatli, seems to have a prior claim upon the word. With the Hebrews the festival was called Pasch, and the name still lire*, jvlth slight alterations, among many nations. The French call the festival Paques; the Dutch term It Paschen, the Danes Paaske, and the Swedes Pask. In the early days of Christianity the Influence of the Jewish Pasch upon the holy day commemorating the slaying of Christ and His resurrection was such that It created many bitter dissensions between the Western and Eastern churches. Finally tho discussions assumed such a threatening aspect that Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, appealed to Victor, Bishop of Rome, asking for a general council to decide the much-vexed question. Accordingly, councils met In all the countries, as well as at Rome, but, for visions of harmony, they could not agree. They finally decided to recognize the day as their respective fathers before them had done, and no sect should censure the other for a difference of opinion. Many warm and even bitter discussions still continued on the subject of Easter celebrations, and It finally led to the great Emperor, Constantine, In t 26, lssubig an order for the dispute to be settled by the Council of Nice. It was the momentous theme of the day. In obedience to royal command, 318 bishops and some 2,000 Inferior clerics assembled at Nice In Bltbynla. The first sessions met In the church, and os the council continued Its work the place of meeting was transferred to the Imperial palace, where special apartments wero reserved for this august body. The main trouble was between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. On the fourteenth day of the first lunar mouth tho Jews observed with , all the solemnity and regard for the Mosaic law the Feast of the Passover; • thus they celebrated the death of Christ as represented by tbe Paschal (Lamb. The first Sabbath after tbe fourteenth day of tho March moon the Osnttls Christians celebrated with Joyous religious services the resurrec- ' tlon of Christ. Neither sect would recognize the other’s festive day, and the Council of Nice was greatly perplexed how best to please all parties. After continuing their debates, pro and eon, for several months, the ecclesiastical dignitaries announced tlint the bitterly waged war of dispute was settled. Easter Day was for all time to be the first Sabbath Immediately following the fourteenth day of the March moon. By this arrangement the world may celebrate Easter. Justly called the ‘‘Queen of Festivals,” as early as March 22, and again It may not arrive until April 21k when nearly the entire earth Is fragrant with spring buds and blossoms. The word Easter Is derived from n Pagan goddess of the early Teutons called Ostera. The.Germnn word for Easter Is Ostern, but some philologists maintain that both the Gcrmnn and English words come from the ajiclent Saxon word Oster, or Osten, meaning “rising.” Ostera, the German goddess was credited with being tho personification of (ho morning, and of the East! and also of the opening year. Ostora was worshiped very generally in northern Germany, and It Is behoved that the fame of the goddess spread to England, where the Saxons Joined In worshiping her. Until the beginning of the present century court was paid to Ostera by the kindling of great bonfires and In other wnys, and even to-day In some of the remote districts where many superstitious beliefs are treasured by tho peasantry the fame of Ostera still lives.

OSTERA, THE PAGAN GODDESS OF EASTER.