The eggs must be admired on this day because they will be cracked. While the origin of easter eggs can be explained in the symbolic terms described above, a sacred tradition among followers of eastern. Family coloring serbian orthodox easter eggs at table with food. The red color represents the blood of jesus christ, whose resurrection is celebrated on the holiday of holidays throughout the greek world. So when we refer to holy pascha from a particular ethnic origin we separate ourselves from a larger whole. When a players egg is cracked on both sides, he or she is eliminated. In the greek orthodox tradition, red eggs are also cracked together when. Therefore the orthodox easter period often occurs later than the easter period that falls around the time of the march equinox. The egg itself represents the sealed tomb of jesus from which he emerged following his crucifixion.
The musical easter egg is called shepherd of fire, and its performed by avenged sevenfold. Learn about serbian easter including the traditions of egg decoration. In north america, in colonial new amsterdam in the 1600s, cracking of eggs was invented by jonathon day on easter monday with the. Learn how orthodox serbians observe the holiday and feast after a strict lenten fast. The game of cracking the greek easter eggs tsougrisma.
Serbia upholds its easter egg traditions balkan insight. Easter in serbia does not involve bunnies or chocolate, but it does. The first egg coloured in red is called cuvarkuca, cuvar, strazar, straznik, all meaning guardian of the home. The customary serbian way to dye and decorate eggs is to use onion and flowers. Family members compete with great joy to see who has chosen the toughest egg to crack.
According to tradition, the lady of the house dyes easter eggs on good friday, while in some regions this is done on holy saturday so the day is sometimes referred to as red saturday. Many orthodox churches base their easter date on the julian calendar, which often differs from the gregorian calendar that is used by many western countries. On the day of easter eggs and candy are hidden in yards and around the house, and then children try to find these hidden gifts. Red easter eggs done in serbian orthodox tradition with warm wax.
One person will hold the top of the egg and the other the bottom. Easter eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of christ, shed on the cross, and the hard shell of the egg symbolizes the sealed tomb of christthe cracking of which symbolizes his resurrection from the dead. A coloured egg at easter is a joyous reminder of spring, of rebirth and resurrection. We all cant wait for the easter bunny to come, for the egg tapping. Bring christian history alive through easter egg traditions. Easter eggs dont come from the biblical story of easter, but their origins are related to centuries of christian tradition. Nicholas greek orthodox church and its tradition of dying eggs red. The cracked eggs were sometimes used during the family easter egg hunt and eventually taken home and used to make potato salad, deviled eggs, egg salad, etc. The easter egg is the symbol of christs resurrection, as well as a token of the. The practice was mentioned to have played an important part in the 14th century in zagreb in relation to the easter festival. The game of cracking, or tsougrisma as the greeks call it. Orthodox christians will play a game of cracking eggs. In eastern serbia and some parts of vojvodina, loafs of bread with a whole egg kovrznjak placed on them are backed and then exchanged between friends.
Of course, the most interesting easter tradition is the egg tapping. Serbians who celebrate easter generally follow the orthodox religious calendar, and they call the holiday vaskrs or uskrs. For orthodox christians, red eggs embody the meaning of easter. Bring christian history alive through easter egg traditions, whitney hopler christian parenting help and advice from a biblical perspective. The eggs are boiled in a pot of water and onion skins, and before adding to the pot, flowers are put onto the shells.
The egg was a symbol of rebirth, adopted by early christians as a symbol of the resurrection of jesus at easter. As armenians were not so much into the whole easter egg hunt, as much as the ageold egg cracking game. Pranks with wooden eggs are also customary when speaking of egg cracking. How orthodox serbians celebrate easter learn religions. It will be easter in serbia in a few days and everyones thinking about egg colouring and cracking, the big easter lunch. The art of egg decoration almost died out entirely among the serbs, but has survived through the traditional lives of remote villagers and the efforts of educators, museums and cultural institutions in both serbia and the diaspora. In egg knocking, the favourite event of children and even adults, the winner is the contestant whose egg doesnt crack. According to ageold greek tradition, easter eggs are dyed red.
What it is, origins of traditions, dates and more easter has taken up a central position in the lives of south africans whether they observe the christian faith or not. If youre looking for a community where easter s trappings really reflect its message, look no further than st. On easter sunday, it is a tradition for greek and armenian families to. During medieval times, egg tapping was practiced in europe. That includes all of us orthodox believers, what ever our ethnic background may be. According to greek tradition, easter eggs are dyed red. Serbian easter, like easter in the other eastern european countries, is a holiday replete with customs, ritual, color, and special dishes.