A predominant symbol of spring and the Easter season is the egg. Usually these eggs are dyed or decorated. However, very few stop and ask, “Why is the egg connected with Easter, and why do Christians decorate eggs for Easter?”
The egg is seen as a symbol of birth, life and rebirth. As our earliest ancestors observed eggs hatch new life, the egg became synonymous with creation, and many creation myths — of gods and the world — involved hatching from eggs. Ancient peoples also used eggs as tools and as vessels to store water. The earliest known decorated eggs are ostrich eggs found in South Africa, believed to be used for water storage. These ostrich eggs were decorated by cross-hatching designs. The ostrich egg was also valuable to the ancient Egyptians because of their many creation myths involving eggs, including the sun god Ra being born from an egg. Due to the value eggs held, they were decorated and used as grave gifts among royalty and the wealthy. People also brought hen eggs to tombs in ancient Rome, which might explain a legend that Mary Magdalene brought a basket of eggs with her to Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday.
In Christianity and in Christian art, the egg has come to represent the birth and rebirth/resurrection of Jesus. In addition to the lore of Mary Magdalene bringing eggs to Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday, another legend claims that when she told the Roman emperor of Jesus’ resurrection, the egg in her hand turned red. The egg turning red is also a likely reason red eggs were among the earliest decorated Easter eggs. Red eggs were common in Greece, with the red symbolizing the blood of Christ, and they were usually dyed using red onion skins.
Another reason eggs were decorated at Easter is that in medieval Europe, Lenten fasting included not just meat, but also eggs and dairy products. Chickens produce fewer eggs in the winter months, but as spring arrives, production increases. These eggs were decorated to mark them as Lent eggs, not to be consumed until Easter. Eggshells were also used to store items and to hold small presents. This is carried on today, usually with plastic eggs during Easter egg hunts. The notion of eggs as presents or vessels for presents was common among European royalty. The czars of Russia engaged in this custom with lavish eggs made of precious stones and metals by the House of Fabergé. The Imperial Russian eggs made by Fabergé were gifts to members of the royal family and court from 1885 to 1916 before the Bolshevik Revolution.
Eggs in Christian arts and crafts are most commonly associated with Easter, but the egg is used at Christmas as well. The egg represents the birth of Jesus as well as the Resurrection, and the egg also represents the fertility of Mary. Because eggs bookend the story of Jesus, Nativities depicted in or on eggs are common. The Marian library has several egg-shaped Nativities and eggs depicting Mary and the holy family. Some of these are made from real eggs; others are made of other materials.
Decorating Easter eggs has a long history with many regional traditions like the Ukrainian pysanky eggs dyed with intricate patterns using melted wax.
— Nicole Burkett is an art collection specialist in the Marian Library.