Easter Traditions: Easter Eggs

The tradition of an egg symbolizing the spring season and renewed life is one that spans many cultures. Believed to be a custom in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China, to name a few, people gave eggs as gifts at spring festivals. 

An old myth was that the Sun was a bird that was hatched from an "egg world," and in another version the world emerged from a "Universe egg." 

Often times the color of eggs and the way they are used have certain significance. Some Orthodox Christians still practice a tradition of baking red-colored eggs into bread, with "red" being symbolic of Christ's blood and bread the staff of life.  The egg-encrusted bread is brought to midnight mass for a blessing, and on Easter morning it is given to a friend or family member, usually a Godparent. 

Polish folklore tells of a man who was bringing a basket of eggs to sell at the market on Good Friday.  When he saw Christ struggling with the cross on his back, the man put down the basket to help him.  Upon retrieving his basket, the eggs had miraculously turned into glorious colors.
 
For a time, eggs were forbidden during lent.  People would hard-boil eggs to save them until they could be eaten and given as gifts on Easter.  Now a fun custom for children, dying eggs probably started as a way for families to teach children about the spiritual meaning of Easter.  And as for the Easter egg hunt, what child's interest wouldn't be peaked with the promise of an adventure.