Forlong - Rivers of Life

442
Rivers of Life, or Faiths of Man in all Lands.
and every inhabitant of his attendant moon—our little earth. On the 14th Nisan, after
the whole of “the old leaven” was removed from each Jewish household, every perfect
male had to repair to Jahveh’s temple over the holy cave and well, and there make offerings
of gratitude—money or other, according to his means; and to this part of the fete,
women of course were gladly welcomed by an avaricious priesthood, provided they were
“ceremonially clean;” even thia last was not much insisted on, however, where they
desired to “give of their abundance to the Lord.” After the offerings the feasting began
with what we call “the Lord’s Supper,” where bread was broken. and “the cup of
blessing” passed round, only varied in manner according to the ideosyncrasies of the
partakers. The feast often. ended in dissipation.
On the 16th Nisan the first sheaves of the early harvest were brought to the priests
who then “waved” them before the Solar Jah—the giver—in thankful acknowledgment
of his loving-kindness. During all this week the best males of the flock with wine in
abundance were daily presented to him, and on the 7th day, or the 21st of Nisan—when
Christians make much ado with eggs, and dcdicate the day to Mary, 1 and when
Hindoos have a solemn Fast (for their year, too, began at the Passover moon)—Jews
celebrate their most sacred Sabbath of the year, and call it “the last day of the Passover,”
“the douhle Sabbath.” At this Easter festival our northern ancestors used
to sacrifice to Rheda, and men and. women tied together, used to dance round
a pole with a huge cake—not without significance—on the top of it; and up to quite
modern times there was also continued m many English counties the strange custom of
“Heaving,” which is clearly of very sexual import. 2 It is thus described:—On Easter
Monday lads must heave wenches, and on Tuesday wenches must heave the lads. This
is done by two lads seizing one wench and heaving her, and on Tuesday by two wenches
seizing one lad and heaving him. They must exert themselves to the utmost, and
heave as high as possible, and then all kiss each other. Heaving is believed to be
lucky, keeps away misfortune, and is conducive to offspring. It clearly has to do with
the leaping and dancing god, the Saltator of the season.
It is at this time that Indians rejoice round poles, whip and lacerate themselves,
and gladly swing from a pole suspended by hooks passed through their muscles. Thus
we see that this vernal fete everywbere signified—as the Jews said, though not as they
meant—that there was once again relief from bondage, the Sun of Righteousness having
again risen and saved his people from wintry Typhon. The Mishna strictly enjoins
that every Israelite shall partake of wine out of a cup at the paska1 feast or
supper, and ask a blessing, and sing the Hallel or praises. The patriarch of the
family sat at the head of the board and asked the blessing. On the feast as well as on
the wine cup, after which the unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and cup passed round.
The “little Passover,” 3 or rejoicing of the later spring harvest is part of our May-
1
See my Tables, page 425.
2
[cf. T. Wright, “On the Worship of the Generative Powers” (p. 160-1, edn. 1894). — T.S.]
3
It is explained, that as some may have been “unclean” or “unworthy,” and so unable to attend the
Great Passover, they might come to this one.