Most people think it's the younger set. But we really look forward to participating in two pre-holiday events with the grandchildren — an egg hunt and an egg coloring.
Sure, the children look for the plastic eggs that hold candy and other treats, but we get to hide them and watch the hunt. And, that's what we did this past weekend in RI when the grands and a friend hunted eggs.
The Easter egg hunt is thought to have German origins dating to the late 16th century. The Protestant reformer Martin Luther organized egg hunts for his congregation. Men hid eggs for women and children to find. It's believed this was symbolic of Christ's resurrection when an empty tomb was discovered by women. England's Queen Victoria enjoyed egg hunts as a child at Kensington Palace. Her mother, German-born Duchess of Kent, staged these hunts. Later, Victoria and her husband Albert continued the tradition by hiding eggs for their children. Albert concealed the eggs in moss baskets which he hid around the palace.
After our hunt ended, it was time for another favorite Easter egg-tivity. The grands mom and Grandpa Grenville watched the trio. (Grenville wasn't in grumpy despite his expression.)
In a very short time, there was a full box of colorful eggs, 18 total were done. Several had messages written on them, including the ever-popular "let me out."
A friend asked WHY eggs are colored for Easter. Being unsure of the reason I searched online and learned that the Easter egg represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians. In Orthodox and Eastern Catholic religions painting eggs is a tradition. Eggs are dyed the color red to symbolize the blood of Christ being shed on the cross. The hard shell of the egg is a symbol of the sealed tomb where Christ's body was placed; cracking the shell represents the resurrection. Centuries ago, Christians abstained from eating eggs and meat during Lent. When Easter arrived, it was a chance to eat eggs again.
Egg rolling, which we skipped, is another Easter-related tradition and is believed to symbolize the rolling of the stone from Christ’s tomb.
Do you color eggs as well (with or without children) ?
16 comments:
In my religion there's no egg coloring tradition. Eggs are, however, a main food item during our Passover holiday.
The egg coloring sounds like a highly enjoyable activity for both kids and grown-ups.
I used to color eggs, with the kids when they were small. have not colored any in the past 35 years with Bob. I did a few times put a little color in the pot of boiled eggs, but only to know which are boiled and which are not. it looks like everyone is having a good time and enjoying eating them to
Beautiful eggs!
I love decorating eggs and I do them alone so I totally get it! Annster's Domain
So much fun. It is a great family activity.
This has never been a big thing at ours. The kids did it a bit more for the grands. The hunt anyway.
I can't recall ever colouring eggs.
I love coloring eggs! We don’t always do it with the grandchildren because it doesn’t often suit to do it....maybe this year :) How fun to do it at your apartment with friends. Cute pics of the kids!
That looked a lot of fun for everyone. We sometimes colour eggs and play a game which Bill used to play in Switzerland. Two people hold a cooked egg and they take it in turns to crack the others egg by tapping it on top of the other egg. You turn it upside down and try to crack both ends of the other egg first.The player to last the longest without their egg cracking is the winner.
We don't do so often now unless the children are here.
How much fun you've had!
I used to colour eggs and may do so again this year. I usually make a broth with brown onion skin, which I then use to colour the eggs. I place some pretty herbs on the eggs and tightly wrap each in a piece of nylon tight. Then I hard boil the eggs in the onion skin broth. Once cooled, I remove tight and herb and a beautiful reddish brown egg is revealed with the herb "print" being much lighter, yellow-ish or white-ish, depending on the original egg shell colour. Stunning! Have fun with your friends when you host the grown-up egg bonanza.
I do remember colouring eggs, but I don't know anyone who does it now. I wish there were children around now so that I could join in the fun.
Nice coloured eggs. I bet everyone had fun doing it. We haven't coloured eggs since my daughter was little.
My 90-year-old aunt still colors eggs every Easter. Then she makes deviled eggs and potato salad for dinner the next day.
Wow - I can’t even remember when we last colored eggs - it’s been a very very long time!! I have to admit, though, it does look like a lot of fun!
You make egg coloring sound fun. I haven't done it in ears but maybe I should.
Looks like everyone had a fun time. We used to color eggs with our sons when they were small, but we haven't done it for a few years.
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