At those times the wealthy people usually gave jewels while poor people brought to the emperors palace what they could give. Thus, Magdalena gave the emperor an egg saying, "The Christ has arisen!". The emperor expressed his disbelief and said, "Nobody can arise from the dead, it is hard to believe in it, like it what this white egg can turn red". Suddenly the egg became red and since that time eggs serve as a symbol of Christs resurrection.

The tradition to paint eggs dates back to pagan times when the Ukrainian people performed magic rituals connected with spring awakening of nature. After Christianity was introduced in Ukraine, it assimilated magic beliefs of the past. People believed that hallowed eggs could help to put out fire or to find lost cattle. They also stroked the cattle with egg to keep them healthy and mixed egg shells with seeds to ensure rich crops.

Why eggs?

The Ukrainian scientists have many theories explaining the symbols of Easter eggs. In ancient times eggs bore magical meaning. Archeologists find eggs in tombs and graves dating back to the times before Christianity. Those eggs are either natural ones or made from marble, clay or other materials. An egg is described in numerous myths as the symbol of life and renewal, the source of everything which exists in this world.

In pagan times the egg was a symbol of spring sun which brought life and light. It was a custom to give an egg as a small gift to pagan gods, to exchange eggs with friends and relatives in the first day of New Year and on birthday (in ancient times New Year began in spring, when nature arises from the winter sleep). Rich people gave golden eggs instead of colored hen eggs.

Orthodox symbolism of painted Easter eggs dates back to ancient traditions of many cultures. At the same time, it gets another meaning: the egg symbolizes Christs revival, the victory of Life over the Death.

Ukrainian eggs technology

Ukrainian eggs are painted on birds eggs using hot wax. First of all, the wax is laid on the egg by means of special small metal tube with wooden handle, making a contour. Then, an egg is put into one color, again covered by wax in parts which should preserve that color and then put into another color. It is done several times, afterwards, the egg is made warm to take away the wax, and it is ready! In ancient times the Ukrainian people used onion peel and berries juices to produce colors.

Different regions of Ukraine have their specialties as to the eggs ornament. E.g., Kiev painted eggs have many colours (beginning with light pastel colors to dark ones), Central Ukraine eggs are decorated with refine plant ornament, Western Ukraine eggs astonish by the difficulty of their thin geometrical ornament and bright-yellow color range.

There are numerous explanations of decoration on Ukrainian eggs in various regions. The curve means the Eternity and the Sun cycle, the grate means the Sun. The red color has the meaning of joy and love, the yellow color means the moon and stars, bronze color stands for Mother Earth.

Ukrainian eggs and Easter celebration

Easter celebration was introduced at the end of the 10th century. Orthodox Easter is celebrated in the first Sunday after spring equinox and March full moon. It was marked by numerous rituals dating back to pagan times.

The ancestors of Ukrainian people used to pay boiled eggs into different colors and put them on the grass. This day people rejoiced that spring came.

Russian tsars and Faberge Easter eggs

The tradition to exchange painted eggs on Easter was common for Russian people as well. During the reign of one Russian Tsar about 37 thousand eggs were prepared for the Easter. The eggs were natural (hens, swans, pigeon and duck) and artificial (made of wood, stone, porcelain, bone and glass).

One of the first attempts to make jewelers decoration out of an Easter egg was made by Carl Faberge in 1884 when the Tsar Alexander the 3rd decided to make an unusual a gift for his wife, Czarina Maria. The egg reminded the empress of her homeland, and afterwards the czar decided to order an Easter egg each year for Maria. Faberge designed Easter eggs for another eleven years until Alexander the 3rd died. Then Nicholas the second continued the tradition. Faberge Easter egg always had some surprise which was kept in great secrecy. Carl Faberge used various materials for his famous eggs like silver, gold, copper, nickel, and palladium. They were combined in varying proportions to produce different colors.