THE RED EGG - A SYMBOL OF RESURRECTION

The color red symbolizes joy and resurrection, and the first red egg is kept until the next Easter as a "guardian," or protector of the family.

For centuries, eggs were dyed red using onion skins, green with nettles, and purple with blueberries.

Today, dyed eggs are mostly bought, but there are still homemakers who respect traditional customs and dye eggs in the traditional way.

The tradition of dyeing eggs at Easter is one of the oldest Christian customs.

There are several legends explaining the reasons for coloring Easter eggs.

One of the most commonly told legends is about Mary Magdalene's journey to Rome to preach the gospel. When she arrived at Emperor Tiberius's court, she brought him a basket of eggs as a gift. The Emperor did not believe in Christ's resurrection and said it would be as impossible as white eggs in the basket turning red. Mary Magdalene replied, "Christ is risen," and all the eggs in the basket turned red.

According to another legend, the inhabitants of Jerusalem mocked the Christians, saying that Christ had not risen because it was impossible, just as it was impossible for hens to lay red eggs. The following year, on Easter day, all the hens in Jerusalem laid red eggs.

Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. According to Christian belief, this occurred on the third day after his death.

It is celebrated after the Jewish Passover (Hebrew: pessach) on the first Sunday after the full moon, which falls on the day of the spring equinox.

Among Eastern Christians, Easter can be as early as April 4th or as late as May 8th, while among Western Christians, Easter always falls between March 22nd and April 25th.