Preparing for such a great day is no less grand event than the holiday itself. Painting eggs, cooking cakes - symbols of Easter, without which nowhere.
Since childhood, we paint eggs in different colors onevery Easter, but not everyone knows the reasons why painted eggs became a symbol of the holiday. Versions there are countless, someone tells unprecedented legends, and someone calls the sole reason for domestic necessity. But still, what does Easter egg mean, what traditions and legends follow this interesting custom?
The tradition to paint eggs for Easter appeared back indeep antiquity. The first notes on painted eggs are found in a 10th century manuscript. The manuscript is kept to this day in the library of the Greek monastery of St. Anastasia. How to paint eggs for Easter and where does tradition come from?
If you believe the manuscript, then after the service at EasterHegumen distributed consecrated eggs to the brethren with the words: “Christ is Risen!” Another legend tells us that the very first egg, Mary Magdalene, gave the Roman emperor Tiberius, as a notice about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While the emperor was presented with gifts, Maryshe gave a gift to the most ordinary chicken egg, saying at the same time: "Christ is Risen." The emperor of Tiberius did not believe the words, objected to Mary that a person would not be able to rise, just as a regular egg would never turn red. And as soon as the last words were spoken, a miracle happened: the egg in the hands of the emperor turned completely red.
Why did the egg become exactly red? Everything is simple, the red color of eggs for Easter is a symbol of the blood shed by Jesus, a symbol of suffering and sacrifice.
Pliny the Elder wrote that already in those times in Romeeggs were stained for feasts and gourmet meals. There was a tradition that if a boiled or baked egg was eaten during a meal, any work that was started would be completed successfully. All because the egg is akin to the sun, revives and revives everything around.
But the legends do not end there, there isthe story that even when Jesus was still very young, the Virgin Mary painted eggs to entertain the child. Since ancient times, the consecrated Easter egg is the first food after a long fast. Only after the tradition to eat the egg will be observed, you can start the meal.
No less popular legend binds traditionto paint Easter eggs with more pre-Christian customs. Even in ancient times in Egypt, Greece, Persia, the egg symbolized the beginning of life and rebirth.
There are versions that are not based on beautifulstories. For example, in the post chicken still continued to lay eggs, which very quickly deteriorate and do not survive the forty-day fast. That is why eggs were boiled and stained. This was done only in the future to distinguish colored eggs from fresh ones.
Another legend relates egg coloring tored color happy birthday of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It was on this day that one of the chickens, which was in the household of his mother, laid an egg with red spots, which was considered a sign of happiness and good luck. And in 224 the Romans presented each other colored eggs as a gift and good wishes.
В современности многие придерживаются такого opinions that the custom of dyeing eggs for Easter is a collection of all legends and old traditions. But whatever the traditions and legends behind it, painting eggs is a permanent symbol of the holiday, because it is not only beautiful and useful, but also fun.
If you believe the beautiful legends, the answer toThe question of why red eggs are painted at Easter is quite simple: the red color symbolizes the shed blood of Jesus Christ. However, most people are of the opinion that, even in ancient times, ingredients such as onion peels, beets, or even cherry bark were the most affordable dyes.
But time passes, and eggs are no longer used.only chicken, but also wooden, chocolate and even made of precious stones. And they are painted in completely different colors: blue, green and yellow. Each color has its own meaning, for example, red - a reminder of God's love for the human race, blue - the color of kindness, hope and love for his neighbor.
Окрашивание яиц сопровождается так называемой the battle is already on the day of the holiday. Since the tradition of beating eggs for Easter, this game has become an indispensable ritual of every Easter Sunday morning. People even develop battle tactics in the battle of eggs.
The tradition to paint eggs evolved over thousands of yearstherefore, the world knows dozens of methods of staining. There is even its own terminology, for example, painted eggs in one color without patterns and drawings are called Krashenkami. But the eggs painted with unusual patterns or drawings are called pysanky.
And if since ancient times as a dyeThe onion peel was used, which, depending on the saturation of the decoction, gives color from yellow to burgundy, but now you can dye eggs with a variety of food dyes, as well as decorate with special stickers.
Painting eggs is a specific day thatbears the name of Thursday Thursday, Good Friday or Red Saturday. It is customary to dye eggs not only among Orthodox, but also among Catholics, and Catholics exchange not only chicken, but also chocolate eggs.
It was believed that the eggs given at Easter should be kept until the next holiday, which is why they began to produce wooden eggs and decorate them with precious stones and rhinestones.
In order to choose which color is best to paint eggs, you should find out what each of the colors symbolizes. What colors do eggs have for Easter?
In order for life to have all the necessary benefits, you should paint the eggs in all the colors of the proposed.
But traditions and customs touched not only BrightEaster Day, and a whole week before the start of the holiday, which is called Great. The most important days of the week fall on its end - this is Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each of them has its own name and meaning:
Pre-night suggests going to church, if this is not possible, then you should pray at home.
С древних времен люди верили в волшебную силу dyed eggs that can put out the fire, and also find the missing cow and even attract animal health. For this it was necessary to hold a painted egg along the spine of the animal. Women used colored eggs and to attract beauty. For this it was necessary to hold an egg so that a blush appeared on the cheeks, and the skin became clean and beautiful. In addition to health and beauty, even our ancestors had such an element of decor as an egg holder for Easter, which looked very advantageous on the festive table.
Easter is a great event for many countries, and each country has its own traditions and customs:
Easter is truly a great holiday and hastremendous value for every christian. The holiday does not have a clear date and is celebrated every year on different days, which are calculated according to the lunisolar calendar.
Easter is a day of fun, laughter, holiday table with painted eggs, Easter cakes and various delicious foods. This is a day that gives spring mood, hope for a happy and bright future.
The ways of painting eggs are completely different, but the rules of preparation are the same. Consider the following recommendations:
If you stick to these tips, the eggs will not cause harm, and the fight with eggs will be a pleasure.
Painting eggs for Easter is a matter of responsibility. It is worth taking the process seriously and observe the following recipes:
To make the egg a true workart, it is necessary to turn to the technique of decoupage eggs for Easter. In the modern world, you can not worry about the invention of new methods of painting and just buy special sets of dyes.
