In Greek Orthodox tradition, we do Easter Eggs a little differently. Dyed a deep red rather than the pastels of spring, the custom of the Easter egg originated amongst the early Christians of Mesopotamia. The eggs are stained deep red to represent the body and blood of Christ, and most stories link Mary Magdalene to the red Easter eggs custom.

Without the handy store-bought pastel dye kits, this method is labor intensive. You will need patience and plenty of time to achieve the deep, vibrant red of the traditional Greek Easter egg. Don’t skip the onion skins either! The skins give the eggs the deep red color rather than a light pink you see with commercial dyes.

Greek Orthodox Easter Eggs

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • 12 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
  • 15 yellow onion skins
  • 6 cups of water
  • 1 package of dye

Instructions

1

Wash and dry the eggs.

2

Combine skins, water, and vinegar and bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

3

Strain the skins and place the eggs in the dye until they are a deep red, it could take up to 30 minutes.

4

Remove the eggs and cool rub with olive oil for a beautiful shine.

Notes

I buy my package of dye from the international market in my area, or my church will sell it as a fundraiser. The directions may also be on the back of the package.

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