Easter Egg Traditions Date Back To The Fourth Century

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Rabbits do not lay eggs. So, how did rabbits, eggs and Easter get all scrambled together?

There are several possibilities. Here’s one from Priscilla Sawyer Lord and Daniel J. Foley in their book, “Easter Garland”: In Egypt, the hare was the symbol for the moon. Since the date of Easter depends on the moon it seems that could be a starting point to the story.

Or consider this: Centuries ago, rabbits were sacrificed to honor Eastre, the Northern European goddess of spring. Later, the Saxons began calling the spring holiday Easter.

How eggs got scrambled into this story is a mystery, but they have long been symbols of fertility. Since Eastre was the goddess of spring and fertility, that may be the connection.

Many cultures have traditionally dyed eggs in bright colors to celebrate the joy of spring. As early as the fourth century, colored eggs were included in Easter celebrations. In France, it was believed that anyone who didn’t eat eggs on Easter would be bitten by snakes. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church carried gifts of eggs on visits after Easter church services, exchanging eggs at each stop.

For many families today, decorating eggs has become part of their springtime tradition. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Supplies

Check the sewing box and your craft supplies for scraps and odds and ends that can be used for decorating.

For glue, we used nontoxic Glue Stic, which goes on like Chap Stick, and water-based white craft glue. A glue gun works, too, but it isn’t recommended for small children.

We dyed eggs with a coloring kit from the grocery store, but you can also use food coloring.

The eggs come first

Hard-cooked eggs should be kept refrigerated. If you want to display your creations for more than a few hours, it’s best to blow them or crack holes in the sides and decorate the hollow shells.

Blowing eggs is not easy. Here’s how to do it: First, wash raw eggs in warm, soapy water. Using a pin, poke tiny holes in each end of an egg. Insert a toothpick in one hole to break the yolk. Remove the toothpick and blow the contents into a bowl. Carefully wash the egg again and let it drain and dry for about an hour before coloring.

To crack the sides of eggs leaving a hole just big enough to hold a toy chick or two, use a pin to poke a circle of holes about the size of a dime. Then gently push the circle with your finger until it breaks. Pinch off tiny bits of shell until you have the shape you want. Wash the egg, inside and out.

Be creative

An easy way to make eggs stand up is to twist a pipe cleaner into a ring and set the egg on top.

To cover eggs with glitter: Mix equal portions of craft glue and water and add a drop of liquid dishwashing detergent. Use a small paintbrush to coat the egg with the thinned glue mixture. Sprinkle on glitter. Use the same technique to make the inside of eggs look like sparkling geodes.

T-shirt glitter glue can be used to write on eggs.

Small children can decorate eggs with stickers.Use a permanent felt marker to

write on eggs or to draw faces.

Turn an egg into a little car: Use an egg with a side opening. Glue shirt buttons on for wheels and a steering wheel.

Use felt scraps for bunny ears and noses.

Use feathers to make wings and hair.And don’t forget: Cover the surface you’re working on with plastic before you begin.