Today is Maundy Thursday or Kokkinopefti and the custom is to dye eggs.
This particular custom, originating in Mesopotamia, spread to Europe and the entire Christian world.
But why is there the custom of dyeing eggs red on Maundy Thursday? There are various interpretations.
The red color in eggs
According to Orthodox tradition, at Easter we dye eggs red because they symbolize the blood of Christ, which he gave for the salvation of the world.
Eggs are dyed on Holy Thursday, which is considered the day of the Last Supper, when Christ offered bread and wine as a symbol of His body and blood, ready to sacrifice himself to free the world from the bonds of sin.
Another tradition about the color says that the Virgin Mary took a basket of eggs and offered them to the guards of her Son, begging them to treat him well. When her tears fell on the eggs, they turned red.
Another version says that one day, after the Resurrection of Christ, Mary Magdalene went to Tiberius Caesar and announced to him that the Lord had risen. Next to them at that moment was a man holding a basket of eggs. Caesar, puzzled, asked Magdalene to prove to him that she was telling the truth by dyeing the white eggs in the basket red. Which is exactly what happened.
In many countries, colored eggs had other symbolism. In China, as early as the 5th century, red eggs were commemorated for festive purposes, as in Egypt since the 10th century. While in the Middle Ages, eggs were dyed to be given as gifts at Easter.
How will you paint them?
So what should you pay attention to so that they boil properly, don't break, and have the perfect color?
Follow simple tips for a sure result:
Do not dye very fresh eggs. Very fresh eggs do not peel well because the white is stuck to the shell and when boiled, it comes off with it. Buy eggs that are a few days old and of medium size.
Boil them in hot water but on a low heat. This reduces the chance of them breaking. Before boiling them, however, leave them at room temperature for about 3-4 hours.
Place a cloth in the pot where you will boil them to absorb shock and prevent them from breaking.
Place a single layer of eggs on top of the cloth, making sure that no eggs touch each other. Cover them with 2 cm of tap water.
Don't forget the vinegar. Vinegar helps the eggs boil without breaking and helps the dye adhere better to the surface of the egg.
Prefer hot water dyes as they give a more intense color. An alternative is confectionery colors or vegetables and spices such as beets, onions.
The crunching
According to Christian tradition, the egg is also a symbol of life, as just as it breaks during the process of cracking, so did the tomb from which Jesus Christ emerged.
Source: in.gr
