Here we are, celebrating Easter again with many distinguish features. Maybe the most popular among them are Easter eggs, which are beautifully decorated. The origin of Easter egg is not determined precisely, but there are several assumptions:

• Persians used to paint eggs as a part of their New Year celebrations which was on the Spring Equinox. This tradition of painting these eggs is said to have continued and now these eggs are known as Easter eggs.
• The egg is considered to be a symbol of new life. The tradition of Easter eggs probably started at the end of the deprivations of Lent.
• In the medieval times these eggs were forbidden during Lent. After the strict fasting days, the consumption of eggs was resumed and this was the time of Easter. This is the time eggs became an integral part of Easter meals.

The egg is seen by followers of Christianity as a symbol of resurrection . In the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Easter eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ , shed on the Cross, and the hard shell of the egg symbolized the sealed Tomb of Christ -the cracking of which symbolized his resurrection from the dead.

There are specific decorating techniques which are used by people from different countries. As a part of the folk tradition of a country, Easter eggs are popular and widely used and decorated in Bulgaria, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary and many other countries.

A Hungarian artist , Csuhaj Tunde was born in 1954, she graduated studies in ceramics at the University of the Arts , Pecs, Hungary. Since 1990, she has decorated geese, swan, emu, rhea and ostrich eggs and has produced astonishing Easter eggs. Her techniques are mainly etching, drilling and painting.

About the Author: Gabriela Tooft

My name is Gabriela, I am interested in music, art, languages and environmentally-friendly activities.