Easter Red Eggs

Brought 30 red hard-boiled eggs to give away to my colleagues this morning in celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Have got at least 10 people asking me if it’s my baby’s month-old birthday, to which I replied matter-of-factly, “Nope, I am not even attached. This is celebrating Christ’s resurrection, signifying new life.”

I had quite a number of puzzled faces. Woohoo!

For those who are confused, ask my close friends and they will tell you that Lina takes pleasure in confusing people. Perrine will definitely agree on that!

While giving away the eggs, a colleague commented that it’s interesting how I tapped on Chinese traditions to commemorate a Western occasion. And that started me thinking about traditions and the like. Why do we use red eggs for babies’ month-old birthdays? A quick search on Google and here’s what I found.

“Eggs were considered a delicacy in traditional China and were usually reserved for special occasions or guests. One month after a child is born, hard-boiled eggs (symbolizing fertility) were dyed red (for good luck) and given to family, friends and relatives who had honored the child's birth. This was an invitation and announcement of the upcoming naming ceremony for the new addition to the family. During the party, the baby's name is given. The name given at this time can be either the child's formal name (traditionally chosen by the grandparents or fortune teller) or a "milk name" (a nickname used until school or marriage).” (Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/262636/red_eggs_and_ginger_traditional_chinese.html)

And I chanced upon some interesting facts. In Czech Republic, the red egg is actually a common practice during the Easter period.

“Tradition tells us that the custom of the egg had its start with St. Mary Magdalene, who is often depicted in icons holding a red egg. She may have been aware that the Romans would know the meaning of the egg as something that brings forth life from a sealed chamber. After Jesus was crucified and rose up to Heaven, Mary was in Rome. When she met with the Roman Emperor Tiberius, she gave him a red colored egg and announced, "Christ is Risen!" She then went on to preach to Tiberius about Jesus. It was an intelligent choice on her part because it was something the Romans would have understood.

In the early days of Christendom, red was the only color used in coloring the eggs, as it signified the sacred blood of Jesus which had been shed on Calvary. The Greek Orthodox believe that the color red also has protective power. However, other colors commonly used today came gradually into use……The cracking of the red eggs among the Orthodox symbolizes a mutual prayer for breaking one's bonds of sins and misery and for entering the new life issuing from the resurrection of Jesus. None of the eggs should remain unbroken for the breaking characterizes emphatically that our Lord has conquered death and is risen, granting New Life to all.” (Source: http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech_culture/czech_holidays/easter/red_eggs.html)

And in the online Catholic encyclopedia website, red-coloured eggs actually symbolises the Easter joy of Christ’s resurrection.

I am surprised that red-coloured eggs is actually an Easter Day practice for the Western and European countries for centuries. The only thing that the Chinese differs is the fact that the red eggs are hard-boiled and we use them for babies’ month-old celebrations. The idea that red eggs is a Chinese tradition is actually *gaspz* wrong!

So I guess my idea wasn’t really that original after all. In fact, it’s appropriate that we gave red eggs during Easter! Woohoo!

Wow, Lina did learn something new today. Awesome! *beamz*

I will never look at red eggs the same way again.
Red eggs, anyone?