Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1902 — CELEBRATION OF EASTER DAY IN MANY LANDS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CELEBRATION OF EASTER DAY IN MANY LANDS.

HE name “Easter” •“"I | — 1 comes to ns from Ifc L mythology, the AnIEA |\ glo-Saxpn goddess of rWI I \ spr ' ng being named SssfaßjAl Eostrc, says Blanche Gardner Spinney in f P the Woman's Home I Companion. Many j J curious customs ars l'llUt / attac b e d to the day, SHsS / not the least proml- / nent of which is the giving of eggs. The ** Persians were accus-

tomsd to give ogga on New Year's, while the Romans Indulged in egg games in honor of Castor and Pollux, who were ■aid to hare been hatched from a swan's egg- Eggs were deftly colored by the Persians, who used their celebrated dyes to great effect for this purpose. Later they learned to write upon the eggs with • greased stick, a custom still employed by our Indian tribes. In France, before Eastertide, the ■riosts began their rounds of risks, blessing and receiving eggs in return. n»e largest of these were selected and ■ant as a tribute to the King. After high mass in the Louvre, highly gilded and ■tied In pyramids, the eggs were carried into the royal presence. Then having Wen blessed by the chaplain, they were glatribnted among the people. In Italy tts same custom was employed. In Russia Easter is “at home day,” as Kew Year's Is with us, and -every man •srries about a generous supply of hardWiled eggs. These, with Easter greetWgs, are exchanged with every friend W meets. Ladles who receive have platters of handsomely painted eggs to give •way, and s kiss can always be claimed «rlth the egg. la Germany Instead of eggs at Easter a print showing their use was often given. A copy of one of these queer prints is mow preserved in the British Museum. flThree hens are ahown holding a basket Is which tre three eggs painted with pictures of tbe resurrection. On the central