OCR Text |
Show Origin of Easter tantHE lily is, in the great na-KrpJI na-KrpJI tions of the world, being considered as important fifj nowadays, on account of its vi ffipMl symbolism, as the holly or uMjirj the evergreen. Indeed, K-fJ there seems to be little dif-Jj4r dif-Jj4r ference between the im-jtJtO. im-jtJtO. portance accorded to Christ-"ptjv Christ-"ptjv mas and that given to Eas-gs?J Eas-gs?J ter. Each stands in its sym-)$ sym-)$ bolisra for a deep religious Uy event, and each in its place holds a significance not to be filled by the other. It is regretted by some people that an observance such as the Easter festival had its inauguration in a ceremony cere-mony that was an outgrowth of a pagan festival. But to the broad-minded broad-minded the fact appears as an evidence evi-dence of the lasting traits of man, recurring re-curring in different ages, and modified to suit the conditions of the times. The twentieth century celebration Is the modern evolution of heathen ideals influenced by those of the Christian religion. From time Immemorial Im-memorial man has celebrated the birth of spring the passing of the gloomy days of winter. It remained for the Christians to accept the deeply-rooted habits of the pagans and to change the formal celebration to suit their beliefs. Easter, through the happy initiative of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth, century, was celebrated not on the day of the Jewish Passover, but the Sunday after. The variation of the date depends upon the fact that the vernal equinox, of the 21st day of March, is the point from which the first Sunday after the full moon is reckoned. The first observance of Easter dates back as far as 68 A. D. From that time it has meant much to Christians, and in the Joyous rebirth of Christ there is a general heartfelt resolution to emerge into the springlike freshness fresh-ness of newer Ideals and better things. |