Did you know that red eggs symbolize good wishes for a new start in Chinese culture? Often served to guests as part of a baby’s first birthday and first month celebrations, red eggs can be given at other important birthdays and weddings too. Red is a Chinese symbol for good fortune, so red eggs have a special meaning on these special occasions.
Guess what? You’ll find lots of red eggs at Greek Easter celebrations too. They also represent rebirth and are used to play a fun game where players each have an egg and try to crack the eggs of other players by lightly tapping them end to end. The player who cracks the others’ eggs is the winner and said to have good luck for the year ahead.
If you’re making Easter eggs with the kids this year, dye some red ones, discuss what they mean and wish each other a happy and prosperous new spring season! We might try these as a special treat for the ever-important first day of school too 🙂
How to Dye Red Eggs
Supplies
- 6 Hard boiled eggs
- Red food coloring
- 1 tsp vinegar (helps the color set)
- 1/2 cup hot water (you can use the water you boiled the eggs in)
- approx. 30 drops red food coloring
- Spoon
- Cooling/Drying Rack
- Plate with Paper Towel
Instructions:
- Hard boil your eggs and let them set/cool for approx 5 min.
- Mix vinegar, food coloring & hot water in a small bowl (big enough for several eggs to fit)
- Using spoon, place 1-2 eggs at a time in the color mixture and turn to coat. You can also spoon the color mixture over the eggs for added coating.
- Remove the eggs with the spoon and place on the rack to dry. Place plate covered in paper towel under the rack to catch any run-off coloring.
Have fun!
