KARACHI:
The motif of eggs has for long been associated with spring, rebirth and the revival of hope. But with the advent of Christianity, the symbolism of the egg began to change and represent, not nature’s rebirth, but the rebirth of man. It has been dyed, painted, adorned and embellished over a time spanning several millennia.
It has been postulated that Christians embraced the egg as symbol for Easter because it was of a similar shape to the boulder of the sepulchre from where Jesus arose after his crucifixion. There are many beliefs attached with the history of Easter. One claiming that: Virgin Mary presented eggs to soldiers at the crucifixion of Jesus, pleading them not to be cruel to him. As she wept, her tears fell upon the eggs and miraculously the eggs got spotted with dots of bright colour.
Another stating that Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus, brought cooked eggs to share with the other women at the tomb of Jesus, and the eggs in her basket turned dark red when she saw the risen Christ. Hence, Easter eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ which was shed on the cross, and the hard shell of the egg signifies the sealed tomb of Jesus.
The cracking of the eggs denotes his resurrection from the dead. According to Evelyn Rolph, a Christian woman residing in England, “Easter represents God’s love”.
In ancient times, before Christianity, the egg represented the rituals of spring and new hope. The Romans, Egyptians and Persians all cherished it as a symbol of the universe. For the Pagans, the egg represented a sense of rebirth of the earth. As winter faded away, the earth would burst with freshness and vegetation, very much similar to the way an egg would hatch with new life. It was also believed to hold special powers. Pregnant women carried an egg to foretell the sex of their unborn child and quite often brides would step on an egg before crossing the threshold of their new homes.
Over the years different cultures have developed their own traditions to decorate Easter eggs. Crimson eggs, to honour the blood of Christ, are exchanged in Greece. In some areas of Germany and Austria green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday. The Slavic decorate their eggs in intricate patterns of gold and silver. In Austria, ferns and tiny plants are fastened around the eggs and boiled, the plants are then removed revealing a striking white pattern.
In Ukraine and Poland, they decorate eggs with simple designs and colours. The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious designs. In Pakistan, the Christian community prepares sweet eggs which are made of marzipan.
Eggs continue to resonate with sombre meanings which have often become clouded in today’s modern, materialistic world: A child who plays in the garden and searches for Easter eggs is in the act of seeking not just a treat, but something outside himself.
Although the myths regarding eggs have disappeared today, the symbolism remains and, artists continue the tradition of adorning eggs to keep the heritage alive.
Types of easter eggs
Be it real, chocolate or bejewelled Faberge, the symbolic egg is firmly associated with Easter, the holiest Christian festival of the year!
CHOCOLATE: Confectionery companies across the globe produce a numerous variety of chocolate Easter Eggs. A popular choice in the UK, Cadbury specialises in making ‘Creme Egg’. It is made up of a thick milk chocolate shell, and on the inside there is a white and yellow fondant filling which mimics the white and yolk of a real egg.
BEEPING EASTER EGGS: They emit various noises so that, visually-impaired children can easily hunt for them. Some beeping Easter eggs make a single, high-pitched sound, while other types of beeping Easter eggs play a melody.
FABERGE EGGS: These eggs are decorative, made of precious metals and decorated with combinations of enamel and gem stones. Named after the founder, the term “Fabergé egg” has become a synonym of luxury and the eggs are regarded as masterpieces of the jeweller’s art.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2011.
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