Easter is just around the corner!
Coloured eggs have been known in Germany since the beginning of the 13th century. The origin of this custom is not entirely certain and there are two main theories
Probably the reason lies in Lent, which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. In the past, people took fasting very seriously and abstained from meat and wine. Animal products such as eggs were also not eaten. However, this did not stop the hens from laying eggs every day
To make the eggs last longer, they were boiled. It is assumed that the housewives dyed the eggs to distinguish them from raw eggs. The women used natural dyes and cooked the eggs in onion skins or beetroot. After the end of Lent, people ate their dyed eggs
Today, this is one of the most beautiful traditions in the pre-Easter period and generates great joy, especially among children. The children of our school can also give free rein to their creativity. Our Birke pupils decided to paint pieces of kitchen roll with felt pens, wrap the boiled eggs in them and tie them up at the top with rubber bands. The wrapped eggs were placed in a glass of water so that the paper would soak up water and thus the eggs would absorb the pattern of the paper. After 15 minutes, the colourful dyed eggs were ready and each child took their colourful Easter egg home either to eat or for Easter decoration.