Colouring Easter Eggs: An Ancient Tradition

Colouring Easter eggs is a joyful way to prepare for the holiday, but it also holds deep symbolic meaning.

When did the custom of colouring Easter eggs originate? The answer to this question is simple: a very, very long time ago. According to an ancient tradition, the first person involved in a miracle concerning coloured eggs was none other than Mary Magdalene! It is also easy to understand why this tradition has persisted, weaving through the history of Christianity and often blending with folk customs, taking on different characteristics in various countries. Consider the tradition of coloured Easter eggs in Russia, which inspired the creation of true artisanal masterpieces, often crafted by miniature artists renowned for their icons. Moreover, it was the Russians who invented the precious and exclusive Fabergé eggs, gifts that became part of the Tsar’s treasure.

Buy Now:

Sacred Icons

Handmade by local craftsmen with the traditional techniques of the Byzantine iconography.

Even in medieval Europe, decorated Easter eggs were exchanged as gifts, and by the 1300s at the English court, they were covered with gold leaf, transforming them into precious jewels.

Among Italian Easter traditions, alongside religious ones, there are many rural customs still alive today. The fragile yet resilient eggshell, designed to protect life within, is used to invoke protection not only for family members but also for farm animals. When buried among the roots of plants, it is believed to bring fertility to the soil. Washing one’s face on Easter morning with water from a basin containing a red egg and a coin is said to ensure health and wealth for the entire year.

What Does the Egg Symbolise?

Long before Easter traditions, everything began with the egg, a symbol of the origin of existence, renewal, and the return of spring to warm the world after winter—a timeless cycle of life. Well before the birth of Christ, people in ancient civilisations exchanged coloured eggs as wishes for fertility and a good harvest during spring festivals. The Romans even buried red-painted eggs in their fields to enhance fertility.

After the coming of Jesus, coloured eggs became one of the symbols of Easter. The egg, representing life and rebirth, took on the profound and mysterious meaning of Christ’s Resurrection. Its vibrant yellow yolk pulses with life and light, akin to the sun, while the white shell, reminiscent of tombstones, breaks open just like the stone that sealed Christ’s tomb, releasing life and the hope of the Saviour.

Thus, the tradition of giving eggs continued, now imbued with an entirely new significance.

Why do we paint eggs? Let’s find out how people in Italy celebrate Easter, diving into the eggs traditions.

Why Do We Paint Eggs?

Among the Easter traditions of many countries, colouring eggs is one of the most widespread. In Italy, giving chocolate eggs is particularly popular, especially among children. The custom of chocolate eggs derives from the older tradition of giving Easter eggs, initially simple hard-boiled eggs, later painted in various colours and decorated with different designs.

Tradition dictates that eggs are coloured on Maundy Thursday and then gifted to family and friends. Red-painted eggs clearly symbolise Christ’s Passion and His blood shed in sacrifice for all humanity. This vivid, bright red can be achieved using water from boiled onions or red beetroot, red cabbage leaves, hibiscus tea, mallow infusion, or blackcurrant juice.

While red eggs have become a symbol of Jesus’ blood, the meaning of eggs as gifts and wishes for happiness and prosperity has never disappeared. This is why eggs are also coloured in cheerful and imaginative hues, making egg-colouring a creative and joyful activity at home. Nowadays, food colouring is commonly used, but one can return to traditional methods, achieving beautiful blue eggs with blueberry juice, green with spinach cooking water or parsley juice, yellow with turmeric or saffron, purple with wine or grape juice, and so on.

Buy Now:

Russian painted eggs

Wooden eggs with hand-painted icons and screen-printed, made in Russia.

The Story of Mary Magdalene’s Red Eggs

After Jesus’ death, eggs quickly became associated with His Resurrection. According to legend, shortly after His death, a rabbi dining with friends declared that Jesus would rise again when the roasted cockerel they were eating came back to life and the eggs on the table turned red. Moments later, the eggs had indeed changed colour, becoming a bright red.

Buy Now:

Christ moment of Resurrection statue 9 cm

The statue is made of resin with a height of 12 cm.

However, the origin of the tradition of painting Easter eggs red is linked to Mary Magdalene. After Jesus’ death, she travelled with the other apostles to preach the Gospel, eventually reaching Rome. According to popular tradition, she appeared before Emperor Tiberius, offering him a red-coloured egg and proclaiming that Christ had risen.

In another version, Magdalene went to the disciples to announce Jesus’ Resurrection. Peter sceptically declared he would believe her story only when the eggs in her basket turned red—which miraculously happened before their very eyes.