Mangalore, March 30, 2013:
Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs which are used during the celebration of Easter. Eggs are generally considered as symbol of fertility and rebirth. So Christians use Easter eggs to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus and the beginning of new life.
It is said that for centuries the Catholic Church had forbidden eating eggs during the lent period. But chickens did not know it was lent and so they continued laying eggs. So it is said that households found a way out to preserve them. They hard-boiled the eggs to prevent them from spoiling and ate them with relish during Easter. So for Easter having eggs was like having a treat and so brightly coloured eggs found their way on the dining table on Easter day.
Eggs may not be in the list of banned food items any more but the tradition continues. Mangalore, which has a sizeable Christian population most bakeries sell hundreds of eggs and cakes in the week leading to the Easter. These bright coloured eggs displayed in one of the bakeries of Mangalore gives a glimpse of what Easter eggs are all about / ENN
