What's With the Easter Egg?

From earliest childhood I can remember coloring Easter eggs. We were five children who grew up with wonderful Easter traditions which we fondly remember. When we were young, our mother cooked and decorated the Easter eggs. As we grew older, we all participated in the activity. We always had Easter eggs and new clothes to wear on Easter Sunday. I do not remember much about any traditional meals we might have had over Easter - probably warm German potato salad, ham and a variety of vegetables followed by apple strudel. We seemed to have that menu for most celebrations. I do remember the Easter baskets filled with colorful eggs and all kinds of sweets. We had many Easter egg hunts at both the church and at home. I did not know what the Easter egg symbolized when I was a child, I just enjoyed the colorful eggs and we always looked forward to receiving them. It wasn't until much later, that I realize that the Easter egg symbolizes fertility and new life.

In most cultures the customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries. Originally Easter eggs were brightly colored and often decorated or painted to represent spring. Eggs were given as gifts and used in fun egg contests. In western culture crimson colored eggs represented the blood of Christ, and in other cultures people decorate their eggs in patterns of gold and silver.

Years ago in the Catholic Church and after the reformation, it was traditional to give the digestive system a rest. These are the first records of fasting. Food was brought to the church to be blessed by the priests, who then kept a portion of the food for themselves. In northern Europe the people brought food, eggs and seeds to the church, in southern Europe the people brought colored eggs.

In the 16th century it was common to eat soft-boiled eggs and a porridge at Easter. People believed that eating these eggs during Easter would protect them from sickness and disease during the year. Like Valentine¹s gifts, when someone received a colored or decorated egg at Easter, it was a sign of affection and/or love. Popular colors for eggs were red, yellow or blue, had various forms of decoration painted on them and often had the names of the recipients inscribed on the eggs. No one seems to know why decorated eggs were given at Easter. Historians conclude that it was simply to celebrate the end of fasting.

Whatever your family traditions are, we hope you enjoy this Easter. If you feel like trying something unusual, why not prepare and enjoy our egg or lamb recipes followed by the apple dessert and a special coffee. Happy Easter!

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