What is the History of the Easter Egg and What is Its Meaning?

We have all used eggs for Easter for a long time. Why? For our children's Easter Egg Hunts, coloring decorating them. But, what is the meaning of the egg? What is the history of the egg involved with our Easter egg traditions? Read on and get the answers to your questions!

In the past there were people who associated Easter Eggs with pagan symbols. Though no one could find any evidence of these claims, until the eighteenth century.

At the Passover, Seder, having a hard-boiled egg put in salt water would symbolize new life and the Passover sacrifices offered at the Temple in Jerusalem. The ancient Persians used painted eggs at their New Year celebration.

In Medieval Europe eggs were forbidden during Lent and also on other traditional festivals. During the strict Lenten fast of forty days, no eggs could be eaten. In Christan times, the egg was a symbol of new life just as a chick might hatch from an egg. Eggs were viewed as symbols of new life and fertility, through the ages. Also in Eastern Christian times, meat and dairy are still prohibited during the fast, being seen as dairy. This was the reason why eggs laid during that time were often boiled or preserved.

The reason why eggs were probably associated with Easter, was during Easter the consumption of eggs resumed after the Lenten festival. There was a prized Easter gift for the children and servants.

Traditions and practice started in many places, such as in Europe an egg was hung on a tree to celebrate the New Year. During the Christian period , they thought that eggs laid on Good Friday, if kept for a hundred years, would have yolks that turned into diamond. If they were cooked on Easter, they would promote fertility throughout the land!

The egg itself is a symbol of the Resurrection, a new life sealed inside.

Coloring the eggs is an established art. Parents hide them for kids to find and kids color and dye for fun. Games also are now included with the eggs. People tend to buy eggs made of chocolate or plastic eggs filled with candy now.

There are many other decorating techniques and traditions of giving them such as for friendship, love or good wishes.

So this is a good look into our Easter egg traditions through our time. All cultures and countries embrace the egg with Easter their own way. What we use the egg for with Easter, in our country today, is decorating them and sending the kids out to find them in hidden places, oh what fun! The kids enjoy this a lot! I hope you enjoy your Easter and learn a little about the egg through time associated with Easter festivities.

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By Sarah Morris