The Tradition Behind Decorating Easter Eggs

When did the tradition of dying and decorating Easter eggs begin? 

Lent
The tradition behind decorating eggs for Easter actually started in a practical way. During Lent, many people gave up rich foods such as eggs. However, they didn’t want the eggs they had to go to waste—so they would boil and preserve the eggs instead. By the time Easter arrived and the fasting period ended, there were plenty of eggs ready to be eaten. People began decorating them to make the celebration feel a little more special and festive.

Started As Necessity; Now is a Tradition
What started as a simple, practical necessity to preserve the eggs, turned into something much more fun and meaningful. Decorating eggs became a creative tradition, especially for kids, with bright colors, patterns, and eventually Easter egg hunts. 

It turned into an Easter ritual  —a small but meaningful way to celebrate the season, welcome spring, and enjoy family time together. 

When I was younger, I used to go to a friend's home and dye eggs. It was fun, but I never actually wanted to eat the eggs afterwards!!

How to Dye and Decorate Eggs
Dying and decorating Easter eggs isn't complicated. The classic way is simply to hard-boil your eggs, let them cool, and then dip them into cups of colored dye.

You can use store-bought kits or go the natural route with ingredients like turmeric for yellow, beets for pink, or red cabbage for blue.  If you wrap rubber bands around the eggs before dyeing them they will form stripes, or draw designs with a white crayon that magically appear once dipped in color. Stickers, markers, and even a touch of glitter can turn them into mini works of art.

Making Easter eggs is about Creating Memories, Not Perfection
A slightly messy kitchen, a few cracked shells, and lots of laughter usually mean you’re doing it just right.