Eggs have always been a symbol of Easter

A new Easter outfit? A basket of eggs and candies? An Easter egg hunt? The traditional ham dinner? When we think of spring and Easter, surely those things come to mind. One of the most important holy days for Christians everywhere, Easter is based on the idea of resurrection and new life.

The egg, specifically the Easter egg, is also a symbol of fertility and new life. The decorating and giving of Easter eggs goes back to the Middle Ages and the Romans, who used them in games as prizes. Easter eggs are centuries old; even the Easter Bunny, first introduced in America by German settlers after the Civil War, can be traced to Anglo-Saxon pagan festivals dedicated to the goddess Eastre and her symbol, the rabbit. Today, however, the Easter Bunny is a type of springtime Santa, bringing eggs and candy to good little boys and girls.

Servants were the recipients of Easter eggs in medieval times. Eggs were colored to represent the bright hues of spring sunlight and flowers; in fact, they were dyed in boiling water with leaves or petals. Sometimes they were etched with hearts and initials and given by would-be admirers to the objects of their affections, almost like Valentines.

Egg colors are specific to different countries and cultures. Slavic nations decorate their eggs in patterns, using gold and silver. In Greece, red eggs represent the blood of Christ. On Maundy Thursday in Austria and Germany, green eggs are used. Armenians traditionally decorate eggs with religious pictures. In several countries, including Germany, eggs are pierced with a needle and their contents removed. The hollow eggs are then dyed and hung from shrubs and bushes during Easter Week.

Easter sports include the ever-popular Easter Egg Hunt. Eggs are hidden (by the Easter Bunny), often in plain sight, and children of the house or the community are invited to ‘hunt’ for them. Sometimes there are prizes for finding the most eggs. Today the eggs are often plastic ones, filled with candy.

The object of another Easter sport, the Easter Egg Roll, is to see who can roll an egg the greatest distance, usually down a grassy slope, without breaking the egg. The most famous egg-rolling event takes place on the White House lawn, with children bringing their own eggs for the contest.

No matter what color you dye your Easter eggs, no matter what designs you use or whether you hide them or roll them, one thing is absolutely certain. There will be plenty of deviled eggs and potato salad on the menu the week after Easter!