Easter Egg Decorating!
Happy Easter week! The sun has been shining in Squamish and it truly feels like Spring. Everything feels happy when the sun comes out. This week we are celebrating Easter and I’ve been planning to decorate eggs in a new way.
In past years we have tried lots of different ways to dye eggs. My top favourites were intricate pysanky (pre kids) and naturally coloured eggs dyed with foods.
Quick History of Decorating Eggs
The practice of decorating eggs spans multiple cultures and religions. Research suggests that the first decorated eggs may have have been ostrich ones that were engraved by people on the African continent dated more than 60,000 years ago.
The Christian adoption of eggs for Easter seems to be connected to Lent. Eggs were not allowed to be eaten during Lent and so any eggs that were laid by chickens during that time were preserved and then permitted to be eaten once Lent was over, which coincides with Easter. In Eastern Europe eggs were dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ.
My family used to always take our coloured eggs and roll them down a hill. Since not everyone I knew did that, I thought that we did it because we didn’t like to eat hard boiled eggs. That may have been one of the reasons, but it’s also symbolic of the stone being rolled away from the tomb when Jesus was resurrected. I love a tradition that’s fun and symbolic!
Fun Ways to Colour Eggs
I love all of the fancy Easter eggs that are patterned or marbled or painted, but at this stage of my life the main goal is for colouring eggs to be a family friendly activity. This year I have actually found a couple of different ways to colour eggs that look very cool and seem great to do with kids. I’m sharing them in case you’re looking to try something new as well!
marble-ish + science experiment
naturally dyed - this takes longer but is so cool
Have a super happy Easter!
Mary-Margaret