The story of why eggs are painted on Easter

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-12 17:37

Few can explain why eggs are painted and Easter cakes are baked on Easter. Let's tell the story of the appearance of Easter paraphernalia according to the Bible, it will be especially useful for children.

Legends

Easter is the day of the resurrection of our Savior, the son of God. This holiday is dedicated to the triumph of vitality over death. As a sign of joy, lay people come to church, consecrate and present colored eggs and Easter cakes. The Great Lent ends, and it is with these products that the breaking of the fast begins.

Since pre-Christian times, there has been a tradition of painting eggs. For most of the peoples of the world, the egg personified the heavenly power of the Universe and the birth of living nature on earth.

The Slavic people equated the egg with fertility and the spring rebirth of nature. As our ancestors believed, the egg represented the whole world, all living and nonliving in it. The upper part personified life force, and the lower part represented the world of the dead.

To appease the gods and beg for alms from them, they painted eggs and brought them as a gift. Red meant family happiness, safety, health, was considered a talisman.

In the 10th century, in the manuscripts preserved in the monastery of St. Anastasia and Greek temples, dyeing eggs already belongs to the Christian tradition. The events are described when the hegumen, after blessing Easter paraphernalia with the exclamation “Christ is Risen”, distributed colored eggs to all parishioners.

In the future, similar rituals were performed in Russia. The donation of colored eggs was accompanied by exclamations about the resurrection of Christ the Savior.

On the day of Jesus' resurrection, all people were equal with each other, regardless of position and material wealth. All were equal before God and represented the unity of the Orthodox people.

Biblical story

There are several different historical variations on why eggs are painted on Easter. Bible history says that after the resurrection of Jesus, Mary Magdalene brought the good news to the emperor Tiberius. And as a sign of respect for the high rank, she presented a chicken egg, symbolizing the rebirth of a new life.

Hearing the incredible news, Tiberius did not believe in the miracle that had happened, laughed in her face and replied: "This cannot be, just as this egg cannot turn red." After the spoken words, the hen's egg in the hands of the messenger turned red. This was a confirmation of her words.

Here are more stories of why eggs are painted red on Easter. It symbolizes the color of the blood of Jesus Christ. And other sources say that the Virgin Mary, in order to entertain little Jesus, painted eggs with various flowers and patterns.

This legend came to us from Ancient Rome. It says that on the eve of the birth of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the chicken laid an unusual egg. Its shell was stained with red spots. It was after this event that the Romans began to paint the eggs, which meant a joyous omen.

The parable of the Jewish meal

This story tells of the Jewish meal after the crucifixion of Christ in Palestine. One of those present at the meal suddenly remembered Jesus' prediction to be resurrected on the third day. And the other exclaimed to him that this would happen only if the smoked chicken on the table cackles and the eggs turn red. After these words, everything happened exactly as he said.

About the nobility of the egg trader

There are many interesting stories for children about why eggs are painted on Easter. Here's another one about the nobility of the egg trader. It speaks of a tragic moment in the life of Jesus, of his crucifixion.

When the Savior climbed to Calvary under the cries of curse, it was very difficult for him. Seeing this, the egg dealer took pity on Jesus and rushed to help him.

He left his goods in a basket on the side of the road, and when he returned for it, he saw that all the eggs had turned red. This sign seemed to him to be God's intervention, so he handed them out to passers-by with stories about what had happened.

About the apostle Peter

Jesus had disciples who later became apostles. One of them was Peter, who later became the founder of the Orthodox Church. After the resurrection of Christ, the apostle and his brothers went throughout Judea and began to tell about the miracle that had happened to all the inhabitants.

But in one city they were not accepted and they began to throw stones in order to kill the preachers. And at that moment another miracle happened - the stones began to turn into red eggs. Soon, realizing that eggs could not kill Peter and his brothers, the people retreated and humbly accepted the Christian faith.

Practical explanation

There is also a practical explanation for the appearance of the Easter symbol of painted eggs. There is always a strict Great Lent before Easter, and the use of eggs during this period is prohibited.

But the chickens do not stop laying eggs, and therefore the people decided to keep them boiled until breaking the fast. And in order to distinguish a raw egg from a boiled one, they were dyed in onion skins, after which they acquired a reddish tint.

For children, any story about why eggs are painted on Easter will be interesting, because each personifies good and the victory of life over death. The red color symbolizes the blood of Jesus, shed for atonement for the sins of the entire human race.

Today they use various shades and even symbolic drawings and ornaments. Consecrated dyes have great magical power. It is believed that if you put a holy egg in a bowl of water and wash yourself with it, then the body will be cleansed of diseases, and the soul will be filled with light and peace.

Summarize

1. The red color of the eggs symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ, which he shed for atonement for the sins of the entire human race.
2. The egg personifies the birth of a new life, its victory over death. The upper layer is the world of the living, and the lower layer is the world of the dead.
3. All who did not believe in the resurrection of Christ received a sign immediately. The eggs were colored red, which signified the Savior's victory over unbelievers and those opposed to the Christian faith.
4. The red color not only symbolizes the blood of Jesus, it personifies the family amulet, happiness, safety and health of all blood relatives.