Easter Eggs

While living in Germany, we had the privilege of celebrating three Easters there. I have to say that I absolutely fell in love with German Easters. Easter is still very much a religious holiday in Germany and you feel a communal reverence as people commemorate the life and sacrifice of our Savior. Along with a feeling of reverence, you feel a stirring of hope as the world blooms back into life after a long, cold winter.

I didn't see or really hear much about the Easter bunny in Germany. Instead, I saw beautiful, colorful eggs hanging everywhere. I saw them hanging from people's trees in their front yards or hanging from vased pussy willow branches in their living rooms. Also, turning hard boiled eggs into colorful masterpieces using dye originated in Germany. The custom was to symbolize new life while the bright colors of the dyed eggs represented sunlight and growth.

Sometimes you get an unexpected Spring storm and your outdoor eggs get covered with snow!

Another aspect of the holiday in Germany that I enjoyed was banks, grocery stores, businesses closed for the Easter weekend and public transportation operated on a very limited schedule. Everything shuts down beginning Good Friday through Monday.

When moving back home, I wanted to keep some of these traditions. So, I bought several eggs which now decorate our home here and there during the season. We dot our front yard trees with Easter eggs, we garnish our front door with an egg wreath and garnish our home with ceramic eggs. The egg banner I made this year certainly follows this theme!

We also spend an evening dyeing eggs. We'll be doing this tomorrow night for Family Home Evening.

So, now when you see bright colorful eggs, remember what they symbolize: light, growth, birth and the life each and every one of us receives from our Savior, Jesus Christ.

One way to enjoy your hard boiled dyed eggs after decorating them is to turn them into Stuffed Eggs. I love stuffed eggs. Here's the recipe:

Stuffed Eggs 

6 hard boiled eggs, peeled

3 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

Dash of salt and pepper

Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Slip out yolks and mash with fork. 

Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. Fill whites with egg mixture, heaping it lightly. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Garnish ideas: pinch of paprika or parsley, crumbled bacon, sliced olives, tiny cooked shrimps, sliced pimiento, chopped chives or shredded cheese.