Why paint eggs?

Easter - Resurrection of Christ - isthe most ancient Christian holiday and the most important Orthodox celebration in the year. On this day, it is customary to attend the Easter service, burn the Holy Fire and arrange a meal after Lent. The festive treat should consist of cakes and, of course, colored eggs. And what for eggs paint? Where did this tradition come from? We will understand these questions.

The tradition of staining eggs for Easter

Why the egg must necessarily be presentthe festive table of a Christian for Easter? In Christianity, the Easter egg symbolizes the Holy Sepulcher: according to the Biblical tradition, when Jesus Christ was executed, his coffin was placed in a cave, the entrance to which was piled up with a stone, shaped like an egg. Thus, the egg is a reminder of the salvation, the resurrection of Christ. Usually it is painted in red - as a reminder of the shed blood of the Savior.

However, there are other versions of originof this tradition. According to one of the legends, Saint Mary Magdalene brought the emperor Tiberius an egg and announced the resurrection of Jesus. Tiberius replied that it was as impossible as if the egg had turned red. This minute the egg turned red.

Another legend, quite realistic,says that the peasants, compelled to observe Lent, wanted to save the eggs from chicken and therefore cooked them. And to distinguish boiled eggs from raw eggs, the shell was stained with natural dyes. Thus, on the day of the fasting, on the bright holiday of Easter, the colored eggs were eaten up.

This is how the tradition of coloring the eggs went, which was officially supported by the church, because the egg is a symbol of resurrection, a new life.

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