TIIE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL. PORTLAND. SUNDAY KOMUNG. APRIL 19. 1903 3 Mir HUJU MM Curious 'v 3f V , mm . v, llllll I mm f i Traditions .v Lfocwfc-J Keacn Back Through the Centuries fjl HERE 'tvere eggs long Ufore hens v Aii "to lay U but " WJ' iAwm wrr focfoi from egg . 1. l .1 I t. L.J J .1 J the maternal instinct ' 1 I 'M. , Aj centuries before the first Easter U i g ell wai associated tn men minus wn certain seasons and with ' hoary traditions. ; There are fern objects about which cling such annque my int. . f I. In ancient mythology it was believed that ;' W,' the world itself sprang from the egg. 'Before r '( ' Zoroaster was born the Persians presented I k eggs to one another at the time of the year -n 'J-s itrw vv BPS y. I '.lii . V 'I ill! 1 mm IXv 1 corresponding to our Easter. So did the Ro mans before the gods oracled of Caesar; so did the Franks before the story of tha cross reached their forest homes. Most ancient symbol of life, the egg re calls many interesting legends. The humble hen may cackle with pride over the impor tance ascribed to her product. The Chinese believe mar himself sprang from the egg. Perhaps there is a nest in your home this morn'tngeggs variegated, tinted with all the colors of the rainbow; chicken eggs, bird eggs, chocolate and candy eggs Easter ts the hey day of the egg. So perhaps you may be interested tn a journey back to the periods when the egg myths began. ADAM and Ey td not flrur in Persian myth ology. Th wera two forces, food and avU Ahrlinan and Ormuad; th. world, thay believed, waa created from a iantlo eg. At that time-before the creatlon-thera waa w llcht-only an eg-. Tha egg broke. Then, lot the lo'weTjortlpn of the .hell changed into th. -earth; th. whit, albumen .oared Into th. heaven. m th. aun. while th. yolk became th. moon to light tn. new aphere by night . . . Breaking Into littl. plec.a. the upp.r portion , ot th. .hell filled th. aky. and countle.a Thua, th. P.r.lana declared, the world waa created. At th. celebration of their New Tear the, ' PJJ on. anoth.r beauUf ully tinted egga In commemoration of th. creation. ,ri,v "Evarythlng aprlnga from th. egg. " ! ww" eradlO waa a. proverb among the anclenta. The old nnn. cherl.hed I myth a.mllar to that of X A myaterloua bird Uld an egg on tha lap of vai malnou. tha god. who hatched It on hi. Whether th. god, tired or f.U aaleep la 'eowdjj. but h. let th. egg fall. It brok.; th. lower half be came th. earth, th. upper portion b"rn. b Th. charming lalanda of Hawaii, th. ttm U.v.. .merged.from an egg. which a atrang. bird laid upon th. water.. , Man, th. Chine., declare, had hta origin in a coloa aal egg. When th. egg brok. Pon-Koo-Wong. th. flrat human being, .merged. ,uHr Pon-Koo-Wong had an Idea as to th. utility 01 thing... ao h. aet to work" and of th. egg mad. th. earth and h.aven. With th. lower half planet, and with th. upper half th. T?o? mJ aettled down peacefully In th. home preparea xor at. descendants. ALWAYS A DELICACY Egga hav. alwaya been a food for human beloge. Before the time of Adam. som. otmtlau "?rh.f! elmlans regarded them with delight f; d oeuvre of Mother Nature, and after man. Jjln,"r?? Sf apples, learned of their rar. delicacy, th. mi ike. In It. avll dealr. to compaBa all knowledge, began auck- 'They' hav. always been nM hr man. V not a few beasts, aa a morsel of tastefulness. ana to day Volumes of trench cookery book. ar. devoted to theWnIn the custom of presenting eggs began Is not lnnltely known. Egg gamea were 'celebrated by the Roman.yinegg-.hap!I arena, th. winner. vlng baskets of eggs as prlaea. These, gamea were insti tuted In honor of Gasvor and Pollux, who w.r. brought forth from eggs laid by JUda th. Bwan after th. visfta- ti0VanyUwrtters claim that the custom of using egg. at Easter waa borrowed from th. Hebrews, who used them at their Passover feaata, It la mor. likely that th. custom originated In th. fourth century, when th. church prohibited th. us. of eggs during forty days of . "urlnsr'that tlm., however, th. hens continued to lay7so that by the nd of Lent there wer. larg. quan tise, of eggs on hand. Parents then gay. th. eggs to their children, and, in order to make them attractive. 'mm lnated in O.rmany. Trom Germany, too. cam. in. quaint Id.a that har.a laid egga While eggs ar. col ored at Easter th. world around, th. p.opl. of certain part, of Austria b.ll.v. It U an unholy custom, and that th. p.rson who colors eggs at thla aeason of the year will n.ver b. married. In th. charming district of Bresse. on th. western alopea of the Alpa, a pretty custom prevalla. On Eas ter morning a hundred eggs are scattered over a level apac. In th. town. A lad and lass com. forward and danc. th. "Branles." If they compl.t. th. danc. without breaking an fortune Whll. coloring eggs. Macedonians rub on. over both cbeeka, with th. b.U.f that their com plexions will remain ruddy. i A general superstition Is that one call, bad luck upon himself by painting a cross , on an egg. Good luck Is secured If flowers ar. palnt.d on an egg In Italy th. egg figures largely in tha Easter cele bration. William Jones quotes a description from Emlllanne," which Is quite picturesque: "In Italy th. heads of a family on Easter .v. .end great chargers filled with boiled egga to th. church to be blessed. The priest having performed th. cere mony, .very on. carries his portion home, and eauseth a largo table to b. set In the best room of th. house, which they cover with their best linen, all bestrewed with flowers, and place around it a dosen dish., of meat. t- "Tls a pleasant sight to see thee, tables set forth In the houses of great persons, when they expos, on side tables, round about th. chamber, all th. plat, they have In the house, and whatever else they hav. that Is rich and curious, In honor of, their Easter eggs, which by themselves mak. a great show, for th. shells of them are painted with divers colors and gilt "Sometimes there are no less than twenty, dosen in the aame charger, neatly laid In th. form, of a pyramid. All who com. to vlait at that tlm. ar. after th. ang.l hae departed and leaves an egg con taining all evil. An old legend In central Franc i. founded on this belief. The peasant houaewlves tell th. .tory each Easter to their children to teach them th. moral of being humble and satisfied with th.lr position. One. upon a tlm., th. legend runs, there lived in a email village In Franc, a widow and her daughter. Jeanne was young and pure, and possessed an almost unearthly beauty. She had many suitors, but loved none She loved her mother and her church. On. Eaat.r morning, whll. returning from mass, Jeanne waa accosted by an old beggar woman. Into the outstretched palm Jeanne .lipped a coin, and was passing on when th. old woman called her back. "Beautiful young woman," croaked the old dame, -do not disdain a little gift Taka thla egg. and within twelve month, you will b. a great lady. A handsome noble will ask you In marriage." Tha face of th. old woman was hidden in her hood. In her ex tended hand waa a red egg. "You wlU have riches, dresses, pleasure." Jeann. took the egg. "But on your nuptial night." added th. crone, "break It There will b. within It a nuptial gift." From that moment Jeann. w.s unhappy. Sh. dreamed of honor and wealth: she became vain and devoted houra to caring for her beauty. She dr.amed of 1UXOne"day a knight rod. into the village. He took possession of an old castle, which had not been ten anted within the memory of man. He proclaimed hinj tha heir of. tha ancient lords, restored th. castl. and furnished It magnificently. Guests arrived by th. .cores, and feasts, and balls and hunting parties w.r. held without interruption. At night th. castl. glowed with lighta. By day laughter rang from th. turr.ta. While riding through the village one day the young 'lord, who called himself Sire Robert de Volplao, eaw Jeanne. Struck by her beauty, h. sought h.r moth.r and asked her in marriage. The mother wished Jeann. ' to refuse, but Jeanne, burning with ambition, accepted. On the nuptial night, after the feast Jeanne and her husband retired to their chamber. The hour of twelve struck. Volplac opened hl arms to caress the bride. "Wait" sh. declared. "I must see what the egg , contains." She opened a casket and. after telling him the story of the gg. took It into her hands. It waa so hot It burnt her fingers. She let It drop. The in stant it broke a hideous toad sprang from th. egg. Are spouting from its nostrils. In a moment th. room was aflame, the bride and her husband wer. .nvel oped in fire. The next morning where th. castl. had stood there was a mass of smouldering ruins. During the Middle Ages France was scoured for unusually largo eggs, which were brought as tribute to the king on Easter Sunday. After mass had been celebrated in the chapol of the Louvre, great baskets of these large eggs, beautifully gilded, wer. brought before the chaplain and blessed, after which the chap lain distributed them, In tha presence of his majesty, to the people of the court Colored eggs, according to an ancient legend, had a strange origin. On the day after the Saviour died a little bird alighted outside the sepulcher and. sang a if pa"-- Jt- U S3mmm 3ttmmmkmmmmmmmmilLjl-mJmm " ' ' 1 faJjsSj&erjgg: egg they ar. Irrevocably afflancd. Th. opposition of parenta cannot prevail. S6 at this tlm. lov.ri whos. marrlag. is opposed by parent. Invariably Join th. dance An egg dyed acarlet at Easter tlm. i. carrl.d during the entire year by many Italian.. They de clare It brings good luck. The peasants of Franc, at Easter glv. their children a scarlet egg. which, they ar wards off evil charms. . , In the Tyrolean mountain, a young woman desirous of winning the favor of a young man glv.a him a Scarlet egg. In Armenia the people place red eggs on the graves of the dead at Easter, so the apirlt. may take Dart In the glorious resurrection. 1 The custom of egu rolling originated among th. farmers of Europe, who believed that the land over which eggs were rolled at Easter would be fruitful yieia iaro crop. a d,..-.-, . - Sr v, ii i nil! i in i gum.- , 7 -.. ; ' 21.1 ' . ' w-sS rrt awa tM.tiw nMnfi4iriAtl Mr invited to eat an Eaat.r egg. which they mutt not refuse" In modern lif. th. egg of Eaater has assum.d large and costly proportlone Not aatlsfled wltn th. product of th. hen, w. hav. gon. to th. confectioner and nov elty dealer. There ar. eggs of candy, chocolate paste board and glase On. gives hi. .w.etheart her Easter Sift of bonbons In a pasteboard egg. And grown folic nd amusement in th. egg kaleidoscope, whll. children find stomach ach. In the twenty-pound egg of choco- Ut Soma year, ago th. larg.st Eaat.r .gg ever con atructed waa mad. in England. It was eighteen feet In circumference and held half a ton of caaav. E and contenta cost, it waa atated. no less than $3500. And Just as legend created th. gg and things wer created of the egg before hen. began work on tha fifth day of creation ao today thanks to th. confec tioner there ar. Easier eggs regaraiesa vi mm uuuiui ox voe HP" plied, and they will be blessed with good fortune If th. candle ia extinguishes tny jook wr ui of a relative The fortunate person arriving noma wii a lighted taper, with it lights an oil lamp which, burn s before th. picture of the patron saint of th. household. Of course th. belief that if on. wears a new garmtni on Eaater he will be blessed with good luck prevail, even in this country. At least the superstition, if not cradlte- . is observed. Th. young folk of East Yorkshire. England, however, make It an act of sacred duty to wear a new article of attir. ao as to prevent any spoiling of their clothe, during the year. ., ; Great fires ar. built in th. churchyard, of certain tor tlona of Bavaria on Easter Sunday. Tney are .light .i with steel and flint To the fir. th. devout com. wlu walnut aticks, which they lightand. when partly on aumed. take to their homes. . These sticks ar.plac i ! above the hearth with,th. belief they will protect th ) bUfnd of" England th. p.opl.xtingujgh th, Area on Eister day and ieUght them with flint.. This l believed to bring Uesalnga and protect th. folk from ttUA curtow'beUef prevails in many sections Of Euron that If on. goes to th. grav. of , "llf earlv Easter morning end, kneeling by th. grave hvmn as the sun riiee th. spirit of th. 3jad will r l.n above th. grave and reveal the secrete ojc " e.Q 'l'".K?,..".t. tlrt-. me-ri fc-. - it waa &v iiiia vtc mo - gan. and the children naa great run irymj i fead tie egg of hardest shell. Of course, it was a rather sloppy gam. at first for the content, would . run to th. ground, and often on the clothing of th. littl. ones. Bo the custom of boiling them hard orig- , lnated. and it hae lasted to this day. . v Many peculiar custom, are observed . in various countries in connection with the egg. In many dis tricts of Franc, th. parish priest visits and blesses th. house, at Eaat.r. A. a reward h. 1. given bask.t. . of boiled egg., both plain and colored. , , - In various parts of Europe there i. told a legend that early each Easter morning, whll. .oft sweet muilo pul.es through the budding trees, and the sky . 'brightens, beautiful angels with asur. wings descend from heaven and visit th. homes of th. faithful. They all bear baskets of eggs, which, th. peopl. believe ' ar. deposited in th. homee . Som.tlmee they say, th. avll on. enter, th. nous. GIRLS, do you wish to know whether your lover is true! Would you, not like to learn whether your imafre entirely fills , hi heart, whether he loves you, in- cerelyl It is easy. On Easter morning the maiden wlo eats an apple may learn her fate. While you eat you must say: "A. Eve In her thirst for knowledge ate. So I, too, wish to know my fate Then count the t3eds. If they are of an even number he is true; if not-look for another fellow. 7 ; TV,,' a ia nnW nnA nf mflnv 8nrtratitinttg con nected with Easter. Curious omens and -beliefs connected with the season have sprung up during the ages, many of them having no association with the religious side of the time. There is a great deal of interesting Easter lore that is unknown to the majority of persons. "( , HARKEN, y. married ladles, would you enjoy a thrashing this morning? Would you consider It a good omen If your husband, after break fast had applied a .witch to your .houlder. WltTBVmIa they do atrang. things in Bphemla .veTy faithful husband faithfully awltch.s bis faith ful wlf. on Eaater morning. If h. did not they w" tell you, th. couple would almost parish from , scourge Of fleas during the summer. Then, Imagine what you would do If. whll. yon were on your way to church. In your spring he", soma, well-meaning friend should pour upon you th con tent, of pitcher of water. . . : P . .. ' Such is . custom of th. Slave . .Te.7.fCces it! to dousa his or her friend with water: if success at- tend th. effort good luck to both; if th.r. is rauure th. y.ar will b. fruitless of blessings, . 8Vfcn. In Manchester. England, a curious custom prevaua. ",W.re you in Manchester this morning you would see. no doubt, women, in parties of alx. wal'"",. strwte O'hey ar. looking for men. One comes " , . Th. women Jump upon him, and sels. him by th. arma . and lege lifting him. they throw klm ov.rtn.ir heada, and. catching hfm. repeat h. p.rfornwnc.. This custom brlngs'good luck to th. city, th.y de- "UManV uch atrang. Easter beliefs end customs pre : valL In part, of Europ. th. p.opl. rls. .arly Easter ' - nis water is t" r . . t " .up occaalonally the peasanta all.v. they bring g iluck and prosperity to their homee A, little rubbed th. .kin 1. .aid to glv. ;olw .nd baautlful co morning and with . pall or pitcher go to th. tor.st They neither talk nor look behind them going or re turning. Just as the light or th. rising aun sparklea on th. water of a running stream th.y fill th. vess.1. X n 1 8 water is Dotweu m ui ...i wu fc -j. 1 on com plexion. .jiorIa- ,8 gUng in th. chtirche. on Easter morning th. mother. ofWta oiPv their Jable. In bath of cold water In which, bava been sprinkled th. petala of flowera which hay. decorated th. aepulcher In the churches on Good Friday. This done, they ar .atlsfl.d th. chUd wlU not .utter, from .ny fright I nrpfous folk Itt.LKSl'' grass barefooted on master b from meat on Easter day. they not suffer from l durlnx th. ensuing year. Th. fishermen of Holland gard t .a .xtremely unlucky to eat meat ,p oa in Albania th. priest of .ach P'h.sjta i t hous.. of "hi. parlshroner. gwUm t h-; aU vU .way with aim, ' ' . j? , ; ' WOE TO CARELESS HUSBANDS Should a husband b. foolish enough to mlstaV a . dawn. . . i,Ane th. good wlf. To bring luck to- the houovne g ot visit .vary room oa .Easter. Anotu luck ia th. visit tor th. nr. ------ a baby on Juastar n' To tau that on. i T iITIIL A u -mm a - loss of on.', .weetbeart. EMtardsr i to p.rhapa tn. ,h Thr. Is 4Ueapr4a aqulrr.1 cros. your path. e " to thle - fciiA,ii'jSasB, berUiv. th. ' jl nerson who j k h, , Transylvania, wlH Bv--bab bora Kasl, r , Snr.VWnif ilStlW.r . brUllant end fonu, ,i , be visit tor tn. nrs - r"-.. n Eastor morning. . v.Antr dy is a ! ftUeTvJu" SiT wlthYn1. , If yon do," the anr' t ana si i . however, U destined .."D not Veep: t. y 'deolar. you wm na- - 01 WMUllIil! -T.,l DO not HUM r i.lv,iU, TV an InVVaUon .xUnde'd t?diy It w,. i-X''t - if