View source for Egg decorating

{{Short description|Type of ritual art}}
{{About|egg decorating in general|the Easter tradition of egg decorating|Easter egg}}
[[File:Ukrainskie pisanki.jpeg|thumb|230px|Ukrainian [[pysanka]]]]
[[File:Huevos de Pascua frente a la Catedral de Zagreb, Croacia, 2014-04-13, DD 01.JPG|thumbnail|Easter egg sculptures resembling {{lang|hr|pisanica}} in front of the Zagreb Cathedral, Croatia]]
'''Egg decorating''' is the art or craft of decorating [[egg (food)|egg]]s. It has been a popular art form throughout history because of the attractive, smooth, oval shape of the egg, and the ancient associations with eggs as a religious and cultural symbol. Egg decorating has been associated with [[Easter]] in recent times, but was practiced independently by many ancient cultures.

== History ==
Eggs are an important symbol in folklore and mythology, often representing life and rebirth, healing and protection, and sometimes featuring in creation myths.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Stephanie|date=2017-04-06|title=The Ancient Art of Decorating Eggs {{!}} Folklife Today|url=https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/04/decorating-eggs/#:~:text=In%20some%20regions%20solid-color,a%20symbol%20of%20Christ's%20blood.|access-date=2021-02-16|website=blogs.loc.gov|archive-date=2021-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321154425/https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/04/decorating-eggs/#:~:text=In%20some%20regions%20solid-color,a%20symbol%20of%20Christ's%20blood.|url-status=live}}</ref> This means that traditional egg decorating existed throughout the world.

=== Africa ===
The oldest eggshells, decorated with engraved hatched patterns, are dated for 60,000 years ago and were found at [[Diepkloof Rock Shelter]] in [[South Africa]].<ref name="Texier">{{cite journal | last1 = Texier | first1 = PJ | last2 = Porraz | first2 = G | last3 = Parkington | first3 = J | last4 = Rigaud | first4 = JP | last5 = Poggenpoel | first5 = C | last6 = Miller | first6 = C | last7 = Tribolo | first7 = C | last8 = Cartwright | first8 = C | last9 = Coudenneau | first9 = A | last10 = Klein | first10 = R | last11 = Steele | first11 = T | last12 = Verna | first12 = C | year = 2010 | title = A Howiesons Poort tradition of engraving ostrich eggshell containers dated to 60,000 years ago at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, South Africa | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA | volume =  107| issue = | pages =  6180–5| doi = 10.1073/pnas.0913047107 | pmid = 20194764 | pmc = 2851956 }}</ref>

In [[Egypt]], it is a tradition to decorate boiled eggs during [[Sham el-Nessim]], a spring-ushering national holiday celebrated by Egyptians regardless of religion, which falls every year on the Monday following the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] [[Easter]].

=== Australia ===
In Australia, emu eggs are carved and the art created by them is known as [[kalti paarti carving]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=South|first=Barrina|date=11 March 2015|title=Kalti Paarti: Carved emu eggs|url=https://australianmuseum.net.au/kalti-paarti-introduction|access-date=2018-08-02|website=Australian Museum|language=en|archive-date=2018-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803044236/https://australianmuseum.net.au/kalti-paarti-introduction|url-status=live}}</ref> The art (which dates to the nineteenth century) is practised by people of different cultures, but it is associated most strongly with [[Indigenous Australian art|Aboriginal art]].

=== Eurasia ===
[[File:Punic ostrich egg from Villaricos (M.A.N. 1935-4-VILL-T.609-7) 01.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A [[Carthage (state)|Carthaginian]] decorated egg from the [[Iron Age]]]]
A [[Ancient Carthage|Punic]] ostrich egg was found in [[Villaricos]], Spain.

[[Orthodoxy#Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] in Mesopotamia used red dyed eggs to symbolise the [[blood of Christ]], which is a possible origin of the [[Easter egg]]. Red eggs feature in Greek Easter celebrations, where people play games which involve tapping the red eggs against each other.<ref name=":1" />

[[Persian culture]] has a tradition of egg decorating, which takes place during the spring [[equinox]]. This time marks [[Nowruz]], the Persian New Year.  Family members decorate eggs together and place them in a bowl. It is said that it is from this cultural tradition that the Christian practice on Easter ultimately originates, having been transmitted via the Slavs.

Long ago Slavic and Iranic peoples formed a close continuum sharing many traditions and innovations in religion and language and in the first millennium many formerly Iranic peoples would eventually become Turkic or Slavic in identity. The tradition of Nowruz, which has its roots in at least ancient [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] tradition, is practised by Persian and [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] peoples of various faiths, albeit the tradition of egg decorating may be even older than the holiday as known modernly.

[[Eastern Europe]]an and [[North Asia]]n cultures, particularly Slavic ones, have a strong tradition of [[Egg decorating in Slavic culture|decorating eggs]] dating back at least to times when [[Slavic paganism]] was the predominant religion. Chicken, duck and goose eggs are decorated variously with batik dyeing, applique, scratch-work, wax encaustic and carving. Egg decorating is particularly popular in Ukraine, where as in many Slavic countries, the eggs are called [[Pysanka|Pysanky]].

The renowned [[Russia]]n court artist and jeweller [[Peter Carl Fabergé]] made exquisitely decorated [[precious metal]] and [[gemstone]] eggs for the Romanovs. These [[Fabergé egg]]s resembled standard decorated eggs, but they were made from [[gold]] and precious stones. In addition to the Slavs, many [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] peoples also maintain closely related traditions of egg dying, associated with the coming of Spring and the Persian New Year [[Nowruz]].

In many parts of Europe, egg decorating took place before the widespread adoption of [[Christianity]]. It is unclear to what extent [[paganism]] and Christianity influenced the practice. The earliest example of egg decoration in Europe was a decorated egg found buried with a young girl in modern-day [[Worms, Germany]], dating to the 5th century, when eggs were not yet associated with [[Easter]].<ref name=":1" />

In [[Northern England]], the tradition of [[Pace Egg play|Pace Egging]] (derived from [[Latin]] ''pascha'' meaning 'Easter') involved boiling eggs in onion skins to dye their shells a golden colour,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pace Egging: A Lancashire Tradition|url=https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/pace-egging.shtml|access-date=2021-02-16|website=www.timetravel-britain.com|archive-date=2021-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211060954/https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/pace-egging.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> or alternatively covered in leaves or flowers inside an onion skin to leave a patterned imprint.<ref name=":1" /> The tradition is practiced on [[Easter]] but is thought to be pre-Christian in origin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=North-East Dictionary|url=http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/durhamdialect/pasteeggs.html|access-date=2021-02-16|website=www.indigogroup.co.uk|archive-date=2021-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509200133/http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/durhamdialect/pasteeggs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Scandinavia]]n traditions also involved boiling eggs with flowers inside onion skins to colour them.<ref name=":1" />

Another type of egg decoration is the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] practice of [[egg shoeing]], which requires goose eggs and miniature horse-shoes, made of iron or lead. The current world record of egg shoeing is 1119 shoes on a single ostrich egg.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tojaspatkolo.hu/bem_e.html |title=Home page of the world recorder, József Koszpek |access-date=2011-11-22 |archive-date=2012-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425235941/http://www.tojaspatkolo.hu/bem_e.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Techniques and modern practices ==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2018}}
Any [[bird egg]] can be facilitated in this process, but most often the larger and stronger the eggshell is, the more favoured it will be by decorators.

[[Goose]], [[duck]] and [[Chicken|hen]]s' eggs are usually "blown" – a hole is made in each end and the contents are blown out. The egg is then either carved, dyed, painted, appliqued or otherwise decorated (using a number of different techniques). Egg decoration is particularly popular in Eastern European countries.

Some eggs, like [[emu]] or [[ostrich egg]]s, are so large and strong that the shells may be carved without breaking. Decorations on emu eggs take advantage of the contrast in colours between the dark green mottled outside of the shell and the shell-underlay.

Many modern egg artists decorate their "art eggs" by etching or carving, while others paint or cover their eggs with different materials, from paper and fabric to [[polymer clay]] and are often painted in bright, spring colours. Using eggs as a canvas has become so popular that special terms have developed with the art form.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.diyncrafts.com/4984/homemade/80-creative-fun-easter-egg-decorating-craft-ideas | title=80 Creative and Fun Easter Egg Decorating and Craft Ideas | publisher=DIY & Crafts | access-date=17 January 2015 | archive-date=18 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118104404/http://www.diyncrafts.com/4984/homemade/80-creative-fun-easter-egg-decorating-craft-ideas | url-status=live }}</ref> Egg artists also have their own guild, the International Egg Art Guild, which promotes the craft of egg artistry.

In the [[United States]] there are shows in many states where artists show their eggs and vendors of "egging" supplies can be found. Each year, the [[White House]] chooses a decorated egg from each state to display at [[easter]].

==See also==
*[[Cascarones]], hollowed eggs filled with confetti, from Mexico
*[[Kalti paarti carving]], method of decorating emu eggs in Australia
*[[Egg decorating in Slavic culture]]
**[[Polish pisanka]]
**[[Croatian pisanica]]
**Ukrainian [[pysanka]]
** Czech  Kraslice
*[[Easter egg]]
*[[Washi eggs|Washi egg]], an egg decorated using [[washi paper]]
*Traditional games with decorated eggs
**[[Egg rolling]]
**[[Egg hunt]]
**[[Egg tapping]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Egg art}}

{{decorative arts}}
{{Easter}}
{{Eggs}}

[[Category:Spring traditions]]
[[Category:Eggs in culture]]