Beautiful Decorations on Easter Eggs

1906--

Easter eggs play an important part in heathen as well as Christian countries. Before the Christian era eggs formed a part of pagan worship and were symbolic of the awakening of nature after the long winter months. After the coming of Christ they were retained as tokens by the early Christians, and though not worshiped in that sense as the heathens did, eggs were used in decorations in the churches when the anniversary of Christ's resurrection was celebrated.

The first Christian church in Egypt adopted the egg of the ostrich as symbolic of faith, and the custom is still observed to this day in the East. Before the high altar, with its six silver lamps, ostrich eggs are suspended in the form of a wreath, one of them without ornamentation and others containing the most exquisite designs.

In the Orient ostrich eggs play an important part as an article of commerce, and the Soudan supplies hundreds for the market. In the spring of the year they are in great demand, and artists are kept busy covering them with beautiful designs. One of these eggs is on exhibition in the museum of art in Detroit, and on its shell are engraved representations of men and animals similar to the recently discovered works of art in the old ruins near Cairo.

In Japan a similar custom prevails, and the eggs of the Australian ostrich are made use of by Japanese artists for representing all the weird imaginings of their versatile minds. Many of them are beautifully painted, but as a rule the natural bluish hue of the egg is retained and the engravings thereon shaded accordingly. Beautiful landscapes are engraved on the shells, as well as portraits and scenes of daily life in Japan.

In the countries bordering on the northern coast of Africa ostrich eggs are also held sacred for purposes of worship, and they are regarded as of great value. They are ornamental in various ways and form a part of church and house decoration.

South America also follows the custom, and in the Argentine Republic every little store in the main street has on exhibition eggs of all colors and designs on the first spring day, as announced by the calendar. One particular design is usually adopted, showing a planter astride of his horse, with a young girl sitting behind him. Another popular design contains on one side a map of the republic, and on the other side two clasped hands, with a liberty cap below and the rising sun above. Small geometrical figures enclose the design. The designs are engraved rather deep, which is considered an art in itself.

This custom is centuries old, and the ornamentation of Easter eggs is regarded as a great work of art in the countries of the East. In fact, the history of the art in those far-off lands really had its birth in the crude designs which embryonic artists first etched on the shells of ostrich eggs. Strange to say, however, the United States has not as yet followed in the footsteps of other nations in this regard, though the day seems not far distant when some of the prettiest designs by the artists of the day will be found on egg shells when Easter comes and will form a part of our home decorations.

--The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, April 15, 1906, page 2 of editorial section.