Do you wonder why people color Easter eggs, then hide them, and hunt for them on Easter Sunday? I was curious, since we will have an Easter Egg Hunt at the Congregational Church this Sunday. The egg has symbolized new life, creation, and rebirth in many cultures. In Hinduism, the egg is a symbol of the creation of the universe. One of Hinduism's most well-known creation myths is the story of the Hiranyagarbha, or the "Golden Embryo." In the myth, the universe began as a cosmic egg, which contained the god Brahma, the creator of the universe. Brahma emerged from the egg and created the world.

Coloring Easter eggs is a tradition that dates to ancient times. Decorated ostrich eggs discovered in the Klasies River Caves, located on the southern coast of South Africa, date from 60,000 years old. In pre-Christian European societies, people celebrated spring by decorating eggs and giving them as gifts. Chickens lay fewer eggs, especially in northern Europe's long, dark winters. With springtime came the hope of more eggs.

With the spread of Christianity, the practice of coloring Easter eggs took on new meanings. In "The Egg in World Mythology and Folklore" by Carl Lindahl, the author explains that the egg symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ, representing new life emerging from the shell, which suggests the tomb.

During the Middle Ages, it was common for Christians to abstain from eating eggs during Lent, the period of fasting and penance leading up to Easter. As a result, eggs became a popular food on Easter Sunday, symbolizing the end of the period of abstinence and the celebration of new life and resurrection.

As the practice evolved, different cultures developed unique styles of decorating eggs. In many Eastern European countries, for example, the tradition of pysanky involves using a wax-resist method to create intricate designs on the egg's surface. In Greece and other Mediterranean countries, eggs dyed red symbolize the blood of Christ.

The tradition of hunting for Easter eggs may have begun in Germany when Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, organized an egg hunt for his congregation. He compared the egg hunt to the search for the tomb of Jesus Christ on Easter morning.

Anyone is welcome to join us on Easter Sunday to celebrate new life. The kids will have an Easter Egg hunt while the rest of us sing hymns and hear the sermon titled “Love Wins.” To make sure we have enough eggs in the search, you can register online at congochurchbbh.org. (Just scroll down a few inches for the button.). You may also join the Sunrise Service on McKown Point near the Maine State Aquarium.