The Red Eggs
Christian legends tie the symbol of the red egg to the passions of Christ. It is said that when Jesus was hit with rocks, when the rocks touched him, they turned to red eggs. It is also said that Saint Maria, coming to see her crucified son, brought some eggs in a basket which were put under the cross and were eventually covered with blood. It is said that when Jesus was crucified was crucified, Pharisee rabbis threw a feast out of joy. One of them said: “When the roster that we eat will be reborn and the eggs will turn red that’s when Jesus will be reborn”. He didn’t have time to finish his speech when the eggs turned red and the roster started to flap his wings.
The crucifixion and the rebirth represent the eternal bond between life and death, just as nature is reborn every spring, when the cycle of life starts all over again. The egg, itself a bearer of life, becomes a symbol of regeneration, purification, eternity. In Romanian Easter tradition it is believed the Easter eggs bear miraculous powers: they heal diseases and protect the animals from one’s household.
Few know it is forbidden to simply throw away the egg shells. The shells are released on a river, announcing that a week after the Christian Easter comes the good people’s Easter.
In certain areas in Moldova, the red eggs or their shells are used as a symbol of fertility and planted at the root of trees, flowers and seeded beds. In the plain areas, the egg shells are buried in the garden and are also used to decorate the Coloian (a clay figurine, which is used to call upon rain during drought). The beautiful decorated Easter eggs are kept over year, next to pictures, as a reminder of the craftsmanship and creativity of the family. In Bucovina, form the sanctified Easter eggs are kept a few pieces, and the hard white turns to a powder which is used for different injuries. It is said that the powder can relieve eye pains, even cataract. In the villages the eggs are decorated using naturally obtained paints.
