Easter - Lázár Abigél (7.b) cikke

Easter

 

     The custom of decorating eggs goes back long before Christianity. The red egg is the symbol of spring and means eternal life. This is why the ancient Hungarians used to put a decorated egg into the hand of the dead.

     The tradition of decorating Easter eggs is still practised in Hungary. Some of the designs are ancient in origin while others imitate the traditional folk motifs of the region.

     Girls prepare their Easter eggs for boys who would come to „sprinkle” them. First they boil the egg, then they put into dye. Afterwards they decorate it with different colours, using a brush.

     The tradition, in olden times, was to pour a bucket of water onto the girls, like watering flowers. Today the boys visit the house of friends on Easter Monday and lightly sprinkle the girls and ladies of the family with water or perfume after telling a rhyme that symbolizes the girls and ladies through the image of flower. In return the boys are treated with ham, pastry, and decorated eggs.