Easter Eggs

This past Wednesday for Activity Days, the girls dyed Easter eggs, and I got to dye one too.

My little chick looks scared, doesn't he? It makes me smile. The sugar cookies were a gift from my coworker who isn't even Christian. I thought that was sweet of her!

Our Activity Days leader shared this about Easter eggs, which I thought was interesting:

The most popular Easter tradition today is the egg. The story of the egg dates from ancient times in India and Egypt, where it was regarded as a symbol of cosmic beginnings. Some religions believed the universe was produced from an egg, thinking that an egg, regarded as dead, had the capability of releasing new life after having been shattered. Consequently, the egg early became associated with the theme of resurrection.

The custom of early Christians in Europe and the Near East was to exchange Easter eggs. However, other religions at that same time also may have influenced this Christian practice. In the fourteenth century a European monarch dyed some eggs, covered others with gold leaf, and distributed them to friends and servants. In Europe and the Baltics, colored eggs became very ornate and the paintings on cooked and glass eggs became works of art. Sometimes the egg shell was pierced and the egg blown out; the shell was then plastered and painted. The more ornate the art on an egg, the more highly the recipient was esteemed. In Christian Europe, red eggs became very popular, the color being derived from the blood of the Atonement. Celebrants would carry eggs in their pockets and give them to friends and relatives whom they visited. Source

I like the symbolism of death bringing new life, like the Savior's resurrection.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!