Spring is just around the corner, and that means longer days, warmer weather — and Easter! And that means bunnies, chocolate, and decorating eggs.
You probably have memories of breaking out the egg-dyeing kits with your kids, where the fizzy little dye pellets turned your plain white eggs all shades of beautiful colors. Maybe you got creative and mixed the dyes, or went for a gradient effect by dip-dyeing.
But did you know that decorating eggs is an age-old tradition. All over the world, eggs are a symbol of new life and springtime, and represent the world waking from its winter slumber.
Plus, they're tasty! You can eat them at almost any time, and they combine well with almost any flavor, even spice, as seen in this heated-breakfast recipe.
Using what they had, people from all different cultures liked to decorate eggs, and their smooth surfaces made them perfect for creating designs both simple and complex.
Some had cultural or religious meaning, and some were just for fun! And as the traditions have evolved over time, people have been coming up with all kinds of new ways to create new and beautiful Easter eggs.
Check out some of the traditional and modern Easter eggs found all over the world below, and maybe you'll get inspired to try some of these gorgeous designs yourself!
Today, it's pretty much anything goes with Easter eggs. They can be plain or complex, bright or pastel, modern or traditional.
But they have a wonderful, rich history that spans multiple cultures, and people are using their creativity to help the tradition evolve every year!
In Eastern Europe, intricate designs are painted onto eggshells with wax, which would resist the dye and leave white lines. As you can see, the designs can get amazingly detailed!
Today, people still use the wax-resist technique to create all kinds of intricate designs.
Shiny gold pigment is also used for added flair, and historically, Easter eggs would be decorated with real gold and jewels for the Russian court.
And people use both these traditions and modern influences to create stunning works of art on their Easter eggs.
People also made dyes out of plants, flowers, and tree bark, and in Ukrainian tradition, each color and design had a specific meaning.
As times changed, so did peoples' designs. Some could get incredibly intricate!
Eggs from other areas have different looks, but can also range from simple to complex.
Sometimes people got really nuts and didn't dye them at all. These eggs, which have been hollowed out, are embroidered. Imagine how difficult that would be!
These eggs are covered in colorful beads for a bright design with an interesting texture.
In Germany, it's common to see Easter eggs decorating trees.
In Japan, people use washi paper, which is usually used for origami, to decorate their eggs.
Today, the only rule for Easter egg decoration is to be as creative as you feel! These eggs have been decorated with washi tape and foil.
And these were painted to look like silly but stylish ladies!
Some people prefer a modernist take on their eggs, like this minimalist black-and-white marbled design.
Other people like to get back to nature, and use pressed plants and flowers for a truly springtime look.
And others like to let their eggs do the talking! Think of them as the Easter version of conversation hearts.
These eggs get spacey with a galaxy-inspired paint job.
And these have an airy, delicate watercolor design that's perfect for spring.
So which were your favorites? Are you a traditionalist, or do you prefer to explore new egg-decorating frontiers?
Let us know in the comments, and SHARE these egg-celent ideas with everyone you know who's looking forward to Easter!
