7 ideas for Easter Eggs

   Easter is coming. We can use these spare days for knitting and crocheting. Or we can knit or crochet Easter decoration.

   In some places in Spain, the tradition sets that the godfather gives the “mona” to his godson on Easter. Although it originally was a cake with boiled egg, symbolising the end of the fasting for Lent, today they have evolved. They are usually made of chocolate, from simple eggs to more elaborated figures.  
   

   The tradition of gifting painted eggs is really ancient, and its origin is not clear. It could come from the Chretien tradition of not consuming them during Lent. Although nowadays the banning is just not to eat meat, between IX and XVIII century the Church considered their consumption similar to meat. That turned out eggs abundance when Lent finished, as hens didn’t understand of religious bannings. To preserve them, they were covered with wax, or boiled and decorated to differentiate them from the fresh ones. They were given as gift on Easter, as a symbol of Christ resurrection.

   However, this habit is much older, and it was probably taken up by Christianity because the pagan tradition couldn’t be eliminated (as it has happened with other traditions). The egg is a symbol for fertility and life beginning, and Easter is celebrated at spring beginning, the start of life after winter lethargy.

   Some historians date back the custom of gifting painted eggs to Ancient Egypt and Persia. In Greece and Rome painted eggs were gifted in spring festivals. In China, 5000 years before Christ, red dyed eggs were gifted for spring equinox, as red colour symbolise long life and happiness. In central Europe, slav countries and Russia eggs were decorated and were made true artwork. In Germany they were decorated empty, and they were hanged on trees, as good luck symbol. That tradition was taken to the United States by settlers, were the Easter Bunny was included. It carries eggs to good children.

   In XIX century, the eggs began to be covered with a sugar paste. Chocolate industry advances make them to be covered of filled with chocolate. This habit is said to be initiated in France by some people, but others say it was begun in the United Kingdom. After that, shapes and figures were changing, until they reach the great variety we can find today.

   And as I personally don’t like chocolate too much, I’m going to show you some Easter Eggs for gifting….made of yarn.               

   These ones are knitted using Fair Isle technique to make the designs.

Find the pattern here

   Or we can knit them for hanging, plain, striped or we can embroider them later.

            

The pattern here

      We can also crochet them, plain or striped.

              

Find the pattern here

   Or we can dare with more colouring designs, decorating them with embroidery, flowers or sequins.

The pattern here

   We can also make knitted hats for our eggs.

              

Find the pattern here

   Or make a basket for them, to carry them individually or all together.

           

Find the small ones here y and the big one here

  And if you don't like traditional Easter Eggs, you can always make your own version. Like these super-eggs with super-powers. Aren't they great?

          

Find them here

      Have you alredy decided which one are you going to make for Easter? Or do you prefer the chocolate ones?