Eastern rituals are older than Christianity. The Magyars tribes, living in the Hungarian steppe, used to believe in a unique Creator even before their Christianization. The eastern tradition of painting eggs is not very different from the same habit practiced when spring comes in the steppe. The consecration of fire, water and green boughs also has his origin in the pagan rituals, passed through the Christian dogma?s filter.
The Ancient Egg
Painting eggs could also be connected with the symbology of the Ancient Egg from which Universe was born and the Redeemer?s blood; according to the legend, the blood wept on the eggs left by a women near the cross.
The Sandor Codex, written in the 15th century, mentions that the glair represents the purity of Christ and the yolk His divine origin.
The Eggs? Writing
Magyars call ,,eggs? writing?? the decorating technique of the red eggs. The painter draws the decorative figures using a pen, wax or acid. The painted eggs are put in a little basket or a pot with germinated wheat; women offer it in the white Monday ? the first Monday after Eastern ? to the visitors came to sing, to wish and to sprinkle the girls with perfume.
The gesture of Christ
The custom has nowadays a special popularity not only in the villages surrounding Braşov but even in our city. Thousands of men are wishing happiness and prosperity in this manner to their relatives; they reiterate the gesture of Christ, who defeated death accomplishing the resurrection of hope.
