Editing Easter egg (section)

==Traditions and customs==
{{Main|Egg decorating||Pisanica (Croatian)|Pysanka|Święconka}}
[[File:Uskršnja košarica2.jpg|thumb|Croatian [[Easter basket]]]]
[[File:Święcone2007.jpg|thumb|left|Blessing of Easter foods in [[Poland]]]]
[[File:Pasxalina abga.jpg|thumb|Red coloured Easter eggs]]

===Lenten tradition===
The Easter egg tradition may also have merged into the celebration of the end of the privations of [[Lent]]. Traditionally, eggs are among the foods forbidden on [[fasting|fast]] days, including all of Lent, an observance which continues among the [[Eastern Christian Churches]] but has fallen into disuse in [[Western Christianity]].

Historically, it has been traditional to use up all of the household's eggs before Lent began.

This established the tradition of [[Shrove Tuesday|Pancake Day]] being celebrated on [[Shrove Tuesday]]. This day, the Tuesday before [[Ash Wednesday]] when Lent begins, is also known as [[Mardi Gras]], a French phrase which translates as "Fat Tuesday" to mark the last consumption of eggs and dairy before Lent begins.

In the Orthodox Church, [[Great Lent]] begins on [[Clean Monday]], rather than Wednesday, so the household's dairy products would be used up in the preceding week, called [[Cheesefare Week]].
[[File:Mico de Pascua (Torreblanca, Castellón).jpg|thumb|[[Easter mona]] with chocolate or natural boiled eggs]]

During Lent, since chickens would not stop producing eggs during this time, a larger than usual store might be available at the end of the fast. This surplus, if any, had to be eaten quickly to prevent spoiling. Then, with the coming of Easter, the eating of eggs resumes.  Some families cook a special meatloaf with eggs in it to be eaten with the Easter dinner.

To avoid waste, it was common for families to [[Boiled egg|hard boil]] or [[pickled egg|pickle]] eggs that their chickens produced during lent, and for this reason the [[Spanish cuisine|Spanish dish]] [[hornazo]] (traditionally eaten on and around Easter) contains hard-boiled eggs as a primary ingredient. In [[Spain]] it is common for godparents to give a [[Easter mona]] to their godchildren during Easter period. 
In [[Hungary]], eggs are used sliced in potato casseroles around the Easter period.

===Symbolism and related customs===
Some Christians symbolically link the cracking open of Easter eggs with the [[empty tomb]] of Jesus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/12170383/When-is-Easter-2016-What-are-the-dates-for-Good-Friday-Easter-Sunday-and-Easter-Monday.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224015808/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/12170383/When-is-Easter-2016-What-are-the-dates-for-Good-Friday-Easter-Sunday-and-Easter-Monday.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2016|title=When is Easter 2016? What are the dates for Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday|last=Allen|first=Emily|date=25 December 2016|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|language=en|access-date=26 February 2016|quote=Eggs illustrate new life, just as Jesus began his new life on East Sunday after the miracle of his resurrection. When eggs are cracked open they are said to symbolise an empty tomb.}}</ref>

In the Orthodox churches, Easter eggs are [[blessing|blessed]] by the priest at the end of the [[Paschal Vigil]] (which is equivalent to [[Holy Saturday]]), and distributed to the faithful. The egg is seen by followers of [[Christianity]] as a symbol of [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]]: while being dormant it contains a new life sealed within it.<ref name=Meaning/><ref name="Symbolism"/>

Similarly, in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in [[Poland]], the so-called [[święconka]], i.e. blessing of decorative baskets with a sampling of Easter eggs and other symbolic foods, is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions on Holy Saturday.

During [[Paschaltide]], in some traditions the Pascal greeting with the Easter egg is even extended to the deceased. On either the second Monday or Tuesday of Pascha, after a [[memorial service (Orthodox)|memorial service]] people bring blessed eggs to the cemetery and bring the joyous [[paschal greeting]], "Christ has risen", to their beloved departed (see [[Radonitza]]).

In [[Greece]], women traditionally dye the eggs with onion skins and vinegar on Thursday (also the day of [[Communion rite|Communion]]). These ceremonial eggs are known as kokkina avga. They also bake [[tsoureki]] for the Easter Sunday feast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dominiquesvillas.co.uk/en/blog/index.cfm/kalo-paska-happy-easter|title=Kalo Paska - Happy Easter|first=Natalie|last=Wagstaff|access-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226123024/http://www.dominiquesvillas.co.uk/en/blog/index.cfm/kalo-paska-happy-easter|archive-date=2014-12-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> Red Easter eggs are sometimes served along the centerline of tsoureki (braided loaf of bread).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/todays-recipe-from-our-files-greek-easter-bread-tsoueki/article_847cc875-8028-5b32-a1eb-f57c036f0f3e.html|title=Today's Recipe from Our Files: Greek Easter bread, Tsoueki|first=Judy|last=Walker|website=NOLA.com|date=7 April 2014 |accessdate=18 December 2022|archive-date=18 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218102232/https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/todays-recipe-from-our-files-greek-easter-bread-tsoueki/article_847cc875-8028-5b32-a1eb-f57c036f0f3e.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Red and Butter, Martha Stewart magazine</ref>

In [[Egypt]], it is a tradition to decorate boiled eggs during [[Sham el-Nessim]] holiday, which falls every year after the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] [[Easter]].

Coincidentally, every Passover, Jews place a hard-boiled egg on the Passover ceremonial plate, and the celebrants also eat hard-boiled eggs dipped in salt water as part of the ceremony.

=== Colouring ===
[[File:Ostereier - Easter eggs.jpg|thumb|Easter eggs before and after colouring]]
[[File:Urządzenie podgrzewające kolorowy wosk do malowania pisanek - detal.jpg|thumb|Heated wax paint used to decorate traditional Easter Eggs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia]]
The dyeing of Easter eggs in different colours is commonplace, with colour being achieved through boiling the egg in natural substances (such as, [[onion]] peel (brown colour), [[oak]] or [[alder]] bark or [[walnut]] nutshell (black), [[beet]] juice (pink) etc.), or using [[artificial colouring]]s.

A greater variety of colour was often provided by tying on the onion skin with different coloured woollen [[yarn]]. In the North of England these are called pace-eggs or paste-eggs, from a dialectal form of Middle English ''pasche''. [[Edward I of England|King Edward I]]'s household accounts in 1290 list an item of 'one shilling and sixpence for the decoration and distribution of 450 Pace-eggs!',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pace Egging|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Pace-Egging/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Historic UK|language=en-GB |first1=Ellen |last1=Castelow |date=23 May 2015 |archive-date=2021-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123012457/https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Pace-Egging/|url-status=live}}</ref> which were to be coloured or gilded and given to members of the royal household.<ref name=":2"/> Traditionally in England, eggs were wrapped in [[onion]] skins and boiled to make their shells look like mottled gold, or wrapped in flowers and leaves first in order to leave a pattern, which parallels a custom practised in traditional [[Scandinavia]]n culture.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Stephanie|date=2017-04-06|title=The Ancient Art of Decorating Eggs {{!}} Folklife Today|url=https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/04/decorating-eggs/#:~:text=In%20some%20regions%20solid-color,a%20symbol%20of%20Christ's%20blood.|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Library of Congress Blogs |archive-date=2021-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321154425/https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/04/decorating-eggs/#:~:text=In%20some%20regions%20solid-color,a%20symbol%20of%20Christ's%20blood.|url-status=live}}</ref> Eggs could also be drawn on with a wax candle before staining, often with a person's name and date on the egg.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=The history behind the Easter pace eggs at York's Castle Museum |first1=Stephen |last1=Lewis |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18371517.history-behind-easter-pace-eggs-yorks-castle-museum/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=York Press|date=11 April 2020 |language=en|archive-date=2021-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404095238/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18371517.history-behind-easter-pace-eggs-yorks-castle-museum/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pace Eggs were generally eaten for breakfast on [[Easter|Easter Sunday]] breakfast. Alternatively, they could be kept as decorations, used in egg-jarping ([[egg tapping]]) games, or given to [[Pace Egg play|Pace Eggers]]. In more recent centuries in England, eggs have been stained with coffee grains<ref name=":2" /> or simply boiled and painted in their shells.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Pace Egging: A Lancashire Tradition|url=https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/pace-egging.shtml|access-date=2021-02-16|website=TimeTravel-Britain.com |first1=John |last1=Ravenscroft  |archive-date=2021-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211060954/https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/pace-egging.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Easter eggs are dyed red to represent the [[blood of Christ]], with further symbolism being found in the hard shell of the egg symbolizing the sealed [[Holy Sepulchre|Tomb of Christ]]—the cracking of which symbolized his resurrection from the dead. The tradition of red easter eggs was used by the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/red-in-russian-culture-1502319|title=In Russia the Color Red Represents More Than You Know|website=TripSavvy |first1=Kerry |last1=Kubilius |date=June 3, 2019 |access-date=2019-03-19|archive-date=2019-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329074523/https://www.tripsavvy.com/red-in-russian-culture-1502319|url-status=live}}</ref> The tradition to dyeing the easter eggs in an Onion tone exists in the cultures of [[Armenia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]], [[Russia]], [[Czech Republic|Czechia]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]], and [[Israel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-dye-easter-eggs-with-onion-skins-holiday-projects-from-the-kitchn-217489|title=How To Dye Easter Eggs with Onion Skins|website=Kitchn|language=en |first1=Coco |last1=Morante |date=May 30, 2019 |access-date=2019-03-19|archive-date=2019-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329075912/https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-dye-easter-eggs-with-onion-skins-holiday-projects-from-the-kitchn-217489|url-status=live}}</ref> The colour is made by boiling onion peel in water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbth.com/russian-kitchen/327928-how-to-paint-easter-eggs|title=How to paint Easter eggs with onion, coffee and beets (PHOTOS)|last=Sorokina|first=Anna|date=2018-03-29|website=Russia Beyond |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-19|archive-date=2019-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329074427/https://www.rbth.com/russian-kitchen/327928-how-to-paint-easter-eggs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastbook.eu/en/2015/03/28/the-easter-tradititons-in-belarus/|title=The Easter Traditions in Belarus|last1= Forman |first1=Daria |date=2015-03-28|website=Eastbook.eu|language=en-US |access-date=2019-03-19 |archive-date=2019-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329074423/https://www.eastbook.eu/en/2015/03/28/the-easter-tradititons-in-belarus/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Patterning===
When boiling them with onion skins, leaves can be attached prior to dyeing to create leaf patterns. The leaves are attached to the eggs before they are dyed with a transparent cloth to wrap the eggs with like inexpensive muslin or nylon stockings, leaving patterns once the leaves are removed after the dyeing process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/how-to-dye-easter-eggs-naturally-without-a-box-onion-skins-beets-cabbage.html|title=How to Dye Easter eggs naturally without a box onion skins beets cabbage|publisher=Serious Eats |first1=Blake |last1=Royer |date=April 30, 2023 |access-date=<!-- 2014 -->|archive-date=2014-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214143021/http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/how-to-dye-easter-eggs-naturally-without-a-box-onion-skins-beets-cabbage.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://natashaskitchen.com/2013/03/19/natural-easter-eggs-3-ways/|title=Natural Easter Eggs 3 Ways! |date=20 March 2013|publisher=Natasha's Kitchen |access-date=<!-- 2014 -->|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024082512/http://natashaskitchen.com/2013/03/19/natural-easter-eggs-3-ways/|url-status=live}}</ref> These eggs are part of [[Easter custom]] in many areas and often accompany other traditional [[Easter food]]s. [[Passover]] [[haminados]] are prepared with similar methods.

[[Pysanky]]<ref>[[Pysanka|Culture – Pysanky]], [http://www.ukrainiandirectory.org/index.htm Ukrainian International Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920211238/http://ukrainiandirectory.org/index.htm |date=2021-09-20 }}</ref> are Ukrainian Easter eggs, decorated using a wax-resist ([[batik]]) method. The word comes from the verb ''pysaty'', "to write", as the designs are not painted on, but written with [[beeswax]]. Lithuanians create intricately detailed margučiai using a hot wax application and dipping method, and also by dipping the eggs first and then etching designs into the shells.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-03 |title=Velykos Traditions |url=https://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/velykos/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=Filadelfijos Lietuvių Namai |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530152627/https://lithuanianmha.org/holiday-traditions/velykos/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Decorating eggs for Easter using wax resistant batik is a popular method in some other eastern European countries.

=== Use of Easter eggs in decorations ===
In some [[Mediterranean]] countries, especially in [[Lebanon]], chicken eggs are boiled and decorated by dye and/or painting and used as decoration<ref>{{Cite web|title=Osterdeko - fünf Ideen rund um das Osterei {{!}} Anton Doll Holzmanufaktur|url=https://www.antondoll.de/blog/osterdeko-fuenf-ideen-rund-um-das-osterei|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.antondoll.de|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813060509/https://www.antondoll.de/blog/osterdeko-fuenf-ideen-rund-um-das-osterei|url-status=live}}</ref> around the house. Then, on [[Easter Day]], young kids would duel with them saying "Christ is resurrected, Indeed, He is", breaking and eating them. This also happens in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[North Macedonia]], [[Romania]], Russia, Serbia and Ukraine. In Easter Sunday friends and family hit each other's egg with their own. The one whose egg does not break is believed to be in for good luck in the future.

In Germany, eggs decorate trees and bushes as [[Easter egg tree]]s, and in several areas public wells as [[Osterbrunnen]].

There used to be a custom in [[Ukraine]], during Easter celebrations to have ''[[krashanky]]'' on a table in a bowl with wheatgrass. The number of the ''krashanky'' equalled the number of departed family members.<ref>Yakovenko, Svitlana 2017, “The Magical Dyed Egg – Krashanka” in [http://sovabooks.com.au/the-book-about-ukrainian-easter/ ''Traditional Velykden: Ukrainian Easter Recipes''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225539/http://sovabooks.com.au/the-book-about-ukrainian-easter/ |date=2017-03-26 }}, Sova Books, Sydney</ref>

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<gallery>
File:Pysanky2011.JPG|Ukrainian Easter eggs
File:Sorbische Ostereier.jpg|Easter eggs from [[Sorbs]]
File:Marguciai2. 2007-04-21.jpg|Easter eggs from [[Lithuania]]
File:Sleepingbeauty.jpg|Perforated egg from [[Germany]], Sleeping Beauty
File:Egg dekorerte.jpg|Norwegian Easter eggs
File:Ostereier-Griechenland.JPG|Easter eggs from [[Greece]]
File:Pisanki ażurowe.jpg|Perforated eggs
File:Oeuf de paque.JPG|Easter eggs from [[France]]
File:White House Easter Egg Roll.jpg|American Easter egg from the [[White House]] [[Washington, D.C.]]
File:Oeufs.jpg|Pace eggs boiled with onion skins and leaf patterns.
File:Red and blue Easter eggs.jpg|Easter eggs decorated with straw
File:04 Easter eggs at a Cultural Miner's House in Sanok.JPG|Easter egg from [[Poland]]
File:Washi Egg Japan US 2.png|[[Washi eggs|Washi egg]] from Japan

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