Dyed Eggs

One of the customs to survive in the most difficult times even for the Church is egg dying for Easter. Traditionally, eggs are dyed either on Maundy Thursday or more commonly on Good Friday, when otherwise folks should not about any activity. On that day our thoughts go to crucified Jesus. Even today, eggs are dyed in onion skin, which gives them a warm brown shade, or in Brazilwood dye, a natural dye from a Brazilian red wood, but also with artificial dyes. Every skilful housewife know how to make pretty patterns of leaves, but the best are the eggs that are decorated with wax before dying. This technique requires a special equipment: a small funnel for pouring the liquid wax. The egg that is dyed first is called a homeguard and is kept until the next year Easter. It is never used in a traditional funny egg cracking game on Easter.

RELIGION AND TRADITION

An egg symbolises new life and the red colouring the spilt innocent blood of Jesus Christ, but also the colour of Resurrection.

HISTORY

According to a legend, the first red egg was taken by Mary Magdalen – the woman to whom Jesus appeared first after the Resurrection – to the Roman emperor Tiberius, hailing him with the words, Christ is risen!