All About Easter Eggs

The Easter egg is one of the main symbols of the spring holiday. Therefore, preparing for Easter, many want to learn as much as possible about it and learn how to decorate dyes in different new ways.

The egg is a traditional symbol of the origin of life. It is usually dyed red. This color symbolizes the blood shed by Christ. But there are other color options. So, a blue or blue hue reminds of the Kingdom of Heaven, and green symbolizes rebirth. As a rule, dyes are made bright. This is how people express their joy.

There are several types of eggs depending on the dyeing technique.

• Krashenki... This is the name for eggs painted in one color. Previously, Orthodox Christians prepared them for the holiday. Natural remedies were used to color them. A red hue could be given to the shell using a decoction of beets or onion husks, yellow - using calendula or apple bark, green - nettle. Now colored monochromatic dyes are also popular. They are painted in all available ways.
• Easter eggs... Original eggs decorated with colored ornaments are called Easter eggs. Traditionally, they were decorated with ritual ornaments or complex storylines. They were applied to the shell both with the help of paints and in some other way. Volumetric patterns were usually obtained using beads, threads, fabric and even fresh flowers, which were attached to the base of the egg.Easter eggs consecrated in the church were usually kept in wicker baskets. It was believed that they serve as real amulets for home and family.
• Speckles... These eggs are also easy to recognize by their design. The specks are painted with small dots and stripes. Previously, wax was used to create prongs. First of all, the shells were painted in one color. After that, wax was dripped onto it, creating the desired pattern. After that, in some places, the wax was peeled off, and the egg was repainted. This procedure was repeated several times. As a result, the egg turned out to be bright and cute.
• Drapanki... This is the name of products with patterns scratched on the shell. Drawings are applied to the surface using a large gypsy needle. Thus, you can depict flowers, religious symbols, and various abstract patterns on it.

The custom of giving each other eggs for Easter has been around for a long time. Easter symbols are exchanged by both children and adults. It is customary to hand over the painted eggs with the phrase "Christ is Risen". The person who receives this symbolic gift must respond with the words "Truly Risen". After the presentation of the dye, people usually exchange kisses on the cheeks. This tradition is called christianization.

Souvenirs are more valuable. Easter eggs can be made of wood, china, or even precious metals. Such decorative items can be stored for many years.

Many people believe that the shells of consecrated eggs should not be thrown away. But actually it is not. Eggs, like Easter cake, are common food items. Therefore, they are simply eaten, and the shells are thrown into the trash. Various games related to eggs are not prohibited either. You can knock with dyes, choosing the strongest specimen, or arrange skating.

Objects with images of saints inscribed on them are considered an exception. The shells of such eggs cannot be thrown away. It is recommended to take it to the temple. The same should be done with excess food left over after the holidays.

To make Easter eggs tasty and not crack, they must be boiled properly.... Before cooking, they must be removed from the refrigerator in advance. If they lie in a warm room for 30-60 minutes, they are much less likely to crack during boiling. Cook the food in a medium-sized saucepan. They should be close to each other. In this case, the shell will not crack due to the fact that the eggs are constantly bumping against each other.

Prepare future dyes in salted water for 8-10 minutes after boiling. The cooked food is washed under cold water and then left to cool. Do not boil eggs for too long. This will cause the yolks to darken and the whites to become "rubbery".

Easter eggs can be decorated in a variety of ways.

Dyeing the shell with improvised means is still very popular. Natural products are safe for health and are always at hand. Therefore, it is quite profitable to work with them.

• Marble pattern. Regular onion skins are used to create the original marble pattern. Decorating eggs in this way is very simple. To begin with, dry the husk is finely chopped with nail scissors. The eggs are moistened with water. After that, they are carefully rolled in a mixture of husks and paper. The products prepared in this way are wrapped in a piece of gauze. Its edges must be securely connected. In this form, the products are sent to a saucepan, where they are cooked until tender. After that, they are taken out of the pan and peeled from husks and paper.
• Gradient... You can get beautiful purple or pink eggs with a smooth transition from one color to another using freshly squeezed cabbage juice. For this, freshly squeezed purple cabbage juice is used. The products are dipped into the dye gradually, leaving them in a container with juice for 30-60 minutes at each stage.
• Floral prints. You can make original eggs with a plant print using green parsley or dill. They are moistened in water and applied to the shell. In this form, the egg can be placed in a nylon sock or a piece of gauze. After that, the products are sent to water with onion peels or to a container with hibiscus tea. Using these tools, you can get beautiful red dyes with original floral patterns.
• Spotted dyes... This is another interesting way to color the shell. To begin with, the product is dipped in an infusion of juice, tea or broth. When it dries out, the necessary patterns or small dots are drawn on the surface of the shell with a needle and wax. After that, the dye is dipped in a container with juice or infusion for another 2-3 hours. Next, the wax coating is carefully removed from the shell surface.

You can color food with your children using water markers. To decorate the shell, you should choose patterns that mean something good and pleasant. With the youngest children, you can draw famous cartoon or fairy-tale characters. Usually, in such cases, adults draw a contour on the surface of the shell, and children already paint the selected pattern. It is a pleasure for the whole family.

You can also use gouache or wax crayons to decorate the shell. The latter are melted in a microwave oven and then used as ordinary paint. Working with such materials, a person can learn how to create real works of art.

This technique is also popular with creatives. You need to decorate ready-made and chilled eggs in this way. The decor is usually created from paper or napkins. The pictures you like are cut out of these materials. These parts are coated with liquid glue, and then attached to the surface of the shell. In this form, the eggs are left to dry. The result of the work is very beautiful.

Eggs dyed with silk fabric also look original. The process of creating such patterns on the shell is as follows.

• First, you need to wrap a raw egg in a silk cloth with your favorite pattern.
• Wrap the top with another layer of fabric. The cotton material is fixed with threads or an elastic band.
• Then the eggs are placed in a saucepan with water and a little vinegar.
• In this form, the products are cooked until fully cooked.
• After that, they are poured with cold water. Once the eggs are completely cool, the cloth can be removed. As a result, a beautiful pattern will be imprinted on the shell.

This method of decorating eggs is the fastest and easiest. Special stickers for the holidays can be purchased at most stores. They are easy to use. The film is put on a boiled egg. After that, it is placed in a container of boiling water. In 10-15 seconds, the film is tightly fixed on the shell surface. In addition to the large thermal stickers, golden or colored stickers can also be used. They are also glued to the shell of finished eggs.

For decorating gift eggs, you can also use multi-colored threads or soft yarn. Usually, raw eggs are decorated in this way, from which their contents are carefully removed. They do it as follows.

• First, you need to outline the future pattern on the shell.This is done with a simple pencil.
• After that, the thread of the selected color is glued to the shell. Then it is wound on the selected area of ​​the egg. Periodically, the thread is additionally fixed with glue.
• Further, in the same way, a thread of a different color is fixed.