History

The egg is thought to be the oldest and most universal symbol of rebirth, fertility and new life used in many ancient festivals. It has represented mystery, magic, medicine, food and omens. Due to the profound symbolism and reverence which it has always been associated with the egg, it has been dyed, painted, adorned and decorated for various celebrations. The custom of offering Easter eggs dates back well beyond the early years of Christianity to the most ancient pagan traditions.

The egg was honored during many rite-of-Spring festivals before becoming associated with the Christian Easter. The egg was considered a symbol of the universe and treasured by the Romans, Gauls, Chinese, Egyptians and Persians. From the earliest times eggs were dyed, exchanged and worshiped by various cultures as a symbol of continuing life and resurrection. Eggs were given as gifts during the spring festivals.

The egg represented the rebirth of the earth during Pagan times. With the long, hard winter months drawing to a close and the earth once again beginning to bloom with renewed life in the same manner as the egg miraculously gave birth to the new life within it. It was thought that the earth itself was hatched from a giant egg; that the Sun-Bird was hatched from this World Egg and Heaven and Earth was formed from the two halves of the egg. The Pagans believed that the egg had special powers. It was buried under the foundation of building to ward off evil; young Roman women carried an egg on their person during pregnancy which they believed foretold the sex of their unborn child.

Among the ancient Egyptians the original eggs is the said to be the joint production of the god "Geb", whose body is the earth, and the goddess "Nut", the sky. From this first egg was born the "Bennyu" the bird of Phoenix, the sun symbol. Another ancient Egyptian religious system called the chief god "Ptah". Drawings found by archaeologists show Ptah seated on a throne, before a potter's wheel, fashioning a golden egg - the beginning of life.

In hindu mythology, the first egg, was described as having been formed in the waters of chaos before the beginning of both universe and time. Another branch of ancient Hindu belief pictured the original egg as being laid by their divinity, Hamsa.

In the Finnish epic, "The Kalevala", their greatest god, "Ukko" formed the earth, sky, sun, moon and clouds from the broken eggs of a teal.

During the middle ages it was the custom in England to decorate and color eggs for Easter. In the year 1290 Edward 1st had four hundred and fifty eggs gold-leafted and colored for Easter gifts at a cost of eighteen pence. These eggs were distributed to his household.

Once the egg became associated with Christianity, its symbolism changed from the birth of material life to the spiritual experience enjoyed only in the life in Christ. Its symbolic adaption to the events of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, His entombment, and finally His Resurrection. The red color of the Orthodox Easter egg signifies the blood of Christ, its shell His three-day entombment, and its breaking His Resurrection by which the "egg of life" brought forth a life. The cracking of the red eggs among Orthodox symbolises a mutual wish for breaking one's bond of sin and misery and for entering the new life issuing from Christ's Resurrection.

In the 17th century, pope Paul V, blessed the egg in a prayer which was used in England, Scotland, and Ireland:

"Bless, O Lord, we beseech Thee, this Try creature of eggs, that is may become a wholesome sustenance to Thy faithful servants, eating in thankfulness to Thee, on account of the Resurrection of Our Lord."

It was forbidden to eat eggs during the fast of Lent and they were only reintroduced on Easter Sunday, both as part of the feasting and as gifts for family, friends and servants.

The most famous decorated Easter eggs were those made by goldsmith, Peter Carl Faberge. The Russian Czar, Alexander, commissioned Faberge to make a special Easter gift for his wife, the Empress Marie, in 1883. The first Faberge egg was an egg within an egg. The outside shell was of platinum and enameled white which opened to reveal a smaller gold egg. The smaller egg also opened to display a golden chicken and a jeweled replica of the Imperial crown. The Czar was so thrilled that he promptly ordered the Faberge firm to design further eggs which were to be delivered each Easter. Nicholas II, Alexander's son continued the custom his parents had started. A total of fifty-seven eggs created in all.

The omens and the mystery of the egg have disappeared but the symbolism still remains. Ornamental egg designers still continue to decorate eggs with their superb artistry using techniques learned and passed down from ancient times. Live flowers and leaves, jewels, elegant fabrics, braids and trim are used to adorn the eggs. These items are separated, delicately placed and glued with epoxy and transparent cement. Birds, tiny cherubs, stars, fairies and many other symbols are hand painted on eggs for decoration. Upon completion they are covered with a flossy resin finish. Many of the designs on the eggs have significant meanings and have been handed in a family from generation to generation. Others are characteristic of the different regions from where the come. Eggs have always been included in the food baskets when it was taken to church for the traditional Easter Saturday blessings.

Legends

The ancient Polish combined folklore and Christian beliefs, firmly affiliating the egg to Easter celebrations. The Virgin Mary is identified with one such legend. It is said that Mary gave eggs to the soldiers at the cross. She wept softly while appealing to the soldiers to be less cruel. As her tears fell upon the eggs, they became spotted with dots of brilliant color.

Another Polish legend tells of when Mary Magdalen went to the sepulchre to anoint the body of Jesus. She apparently brought a basket of eggs with her to serve as a meal. When the eggs were uncovered, they had miraculously changed from pure white shells to a brilliant rainbow of colors.

One other Polish legend states that on the first Good Friday a man taking a basket of eggs to market to sell. On his way there, he placed his basket on the ground to help Christ carry the cross. Upon his return the eggs were said to have been mysteriously decorated in beautiful colors and designs. Even to this day, the Polish have continued the tradition of "Pisnaki" decorating eggs.

In Greek mythology, the "black-winged night" gave birth to an egg from which sprang Eros, the source of life. A Phoenician myth has Aphrodite being born from an egg, and a similar Greek myth has Helen being born from an egg that fell from the moon.

The romans considered red eggs as symbols of prosperity and happiness. Traditionally birthdays of notable Romans were marked by fowls laying red eggs.

Traditions

Originally, Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring are used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After being colored and painted with various designs they were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, in the same tradition as valentines.

In Germany eggs are given to children along with other Easter gifts. In Germany and other countries eggs used for cooking are not broken, but the contents removed by piercing the end of each egg with a needle and blowing the contents into a bowl. The hollow eggs are dried and hung from shrubs and tress during the Easter Week.

Bulgarian Easter Traditions

Great and Holy Thursday (Veli chetvortok). This is the day when the Easter eggs are colored red and people take their eggs to church for the service of the 12 Passion Gospels. After the service they bury the eggs in the vineyard so that God keeps them from hailstorms(grrduska) and gives them a good harvest(beriket). It is believed that a Holy Thursday egg remains that way for the complete year.

One or two days before Easter each Christian family would send presents to their Turkish friends which usually consisted of a loaf of bread and 10-15 red eggs. This was a gift that was of great honor, and they would feel offended if it was not received. Normally the person delivering this gift receives a small token of appreciation.

It was also a tradition for the hostess to give each of her guest a red egg during the Easter season. Today, although the tradition remains, it is usually reserved only for children who are happy to receive an egg as a present. During the Easter week children and adults play a game with eggs, where they try to break an egg on each other. Whoever breaks the egg of the opponent, gets it as a prize.

Bright red colored eggs are the symbol of Easter for Orthodox Christian's world wide. The eggs are colored on Holy Thursday after the Divine Liturgy. Decorating the round Easter bread with red eggs at the four edges of the cross on the bread is a custom which dates back to at least the 12th century. This bread is taken to church on Saturday evening when a special sequence of services takes place. After the service the clergy bless the breads and eggs brought by the people and they take them home. In the Orthodox Prayer Books there is a prayer for blessing Easter eggs. These breads are then presented to Turkish friends, to the Godparents, biological parents and other relatives and friends. The eggs are cracked after midnight service during the next days. One egg is cracked on the wall of the church, the first which is eaten after the long Fast. This ritual takes place before the Easter lunch. People take turns tapping the eggs together and the person who ends up with the last unbroken egg is believed to have a year of good luck.

The Romans celebrated the Easter season by running races on an oval track and giving eggs as prizes. Two traditional Easter egg games are the Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Egg Roll.

Easter Egg Hunt

In many homes children join in the fun of searching for eggs which the Easter Bunny has hidden while they were sleeping. The search continues throughout the house as well as outdoors, with the older children aiding the younger ones. In some cases the child who finds the most eggs is rewarded with a prize.

Many communities also have an Easter egg hunt for the holiday season. The eggs are hidden in public places such as parks and so forth and children belonging to the community are invited to search for the eggs.

Easter Egg Roll

Basically the rules for an Easter Egg Roll is to see who can roll an egg the greatest distance without causing the egg to break. This is usually done by rolling the eggs down a grassy hillside or slope.

In the United States a well-known Easter event is "The traditional White House Easter Egg Roll," which is held on the South Lawn of the White House. There appears to be more than one version of how this event came about.

Version One. Apparently the tradition of public Easter egg rolling was organized by Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison in 1810. It was held in a variety of places such as the grounds of the Capitol, the White House South Lawn and the National Zoo. The eggs are made of wood and have been a keepsake for children ranging in age from three to six attending the event. Today, the eggs are given a unique each year and offered for sale to the general public.

Version Two. This version dates back to 1878, when it is said that President Rutherford B. Hayes was responsible for the traditional White House Easter Monday egg roll. This event was always held the day after Easter. Children were invited to come with their baskets filled with brightly decorated eggs. The children where then encouraged to roll their eggs all over the vast expanse of lawns around the White House in the hope that the President was watching and enjoying the event.

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