Lent is almost over in a couple of weeks, and you know what that means.
Easter!
Easter eggs can trace their colorful history as far back as the 13th century. There are different reasons for the origin of this annual tradition and its relation to Easter.
Some sources say that some pagan rituals were integrated into the Catholic faith. As such, they celebrate the resurrection through an egg, which is often attributed to “new life”.
Others, meanwhile, say that eggs are forbidden during the Lenten fast. To celebrate the breaking of the fast, people paint the eggs and then eat them as a celebration.
No matter the origin, we can agree that this is a fun tradition.
No time to elaborately decorate eggs?
With hectic schedules and tight budgets, it’s good to know that we have a way to get some colored eggs without using up too much time.
All you need are eggs and some dyes. But for this project, we will be using a naturally occurring dye that you can buy at your local specialty stores.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Eggs
- 80g hibiscus tea
- 400ml alcoholic vinegar
- 500ml water
- A little bit of oil for coating.
If you are using colored eggs, follow these steps.
1. First, soak the eggs in lukewarm water.
2. Using a clean sponge, wipe the eggs clean.
3. Put the eggs into a pot and fill it with 500ml of water.
4. Add in 400ml of alcoholic vinegar (such as wine vinegar).
6. Place on the stove and put the eggs to a boil. Cook them for 11 minutes.
7. After a while, you will see the colored foam floating on top. Using a spoon, skim the foam to clear the water.
8. Place the eggs under cold water and wipe them off with a clean sponge. You’ll notice that the shells will come close to a shade of white.
If you’re already using white eggs, you can boil the eggs too to ensure their structure.
For the hibiscus dye:
1. Put the hibiscus tea in a big mixing bowl. Use freshly made hibiscus tea and flowers. Don’t use hibiscus in teabags.
2. Pour boiling water over the tea.
3. Add a tablespoon of vinegar and mix,
Now, to paint the Easter eggs.
1. Plop the eggs into the tea mixture.
2. Leave the eggs for three minutes.
3. After three minutes, scoop the eggs out. You can choose two different “patterns” from here on.
You can leave the eggs in the tea for a more vivid solid color. You can also marble your eggs by putting them in a small square of cling wrap.
Add a spoonful of the tea and some flowers then wrap tightly.
A few more minutes and they’re done.
The best thing about this project is that it uses natural ingredients that are safe for you and your family.
It also doesn’t take too much time which can help you focus on the festivities of the season.
Try this project out for yourself and tell us what you think!
See how it’s done in detail in the video below!
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