The tradition of dying eggs to celebrate Spring actually predates Christianity and Easter. Many different cultures celebrated the coming of Spring and the power of the sun, by dyeing eggs and giving them as gifts to one another, and even the Earth! In fact, the basis of eggs symbolizing life and fertility have been included in celebrations around the world for over 2,500 years. Did you know that the idea of the Easter Bunny was originally brought to America from Germany? Rabbits are an ancient symbol of fertility, and originally the Easter Bunny was depicted as laying the eggs, that were found in nests by children. Later this emerged into what we are familiar with; a bunny hiding laid chicken eggs, and filling baskets with them, instead of nests.

I am not religious and have never been, but some of my family is. Therefore growing up we did celebrate Easter, and still do! I fully engulf the commerciality of the holiday with Peter Cottontail and the like. However, when I began my journey to Veg and began to realize the cruelty of factory farming, especially regarding eggs and chickens, many holiday-centric actives were pushed to the back burner, as there was no real comparable alternative. Dyeing eggs was one of them. Sure I have attempted decorating Easter-shaped cookies, and hiding plastic eggs, but when you grown up bonding over the same activity year after year, it can be disheartening to give up. Enter craft eggs.

Craft eggs have been around for some time, but having them at our disposal in big box stores was not always the case. A few years ago I purchased a few cartons of craft eggs the first time I ever saw them at Walmart. Nobody else was buying them and I couldn’t believe it! You mean I can dye ‘eggs’ again without contributing to the cruelty of factory farming? Wait, I can also KEEP the decorated egg forever because it is actually inedible and will never spoil? Sold! We completed the initial cartons, and I am happy to report that Target now has their very own line of craft eggs! For $3 a dozen you can purchase a set of white craft eggs, or colored “chalk board” eggs by Spritz. The chalkboard eggs are new to me, and I actually like them as is! The simple solid colors are nice and think will make for nice filler décor. The white craft eggs dye like a typical foul egg, so the possibilities are endless!

Pick up some natural-colored dye, gold leaf, or temporary tattoos and scour Pinterest for some decorating ideas! Vegans can partake in dyeing eggs again, and I can’t wait to see what ideas we come up with!

Target Location: 2425 Claribel Rd, Riverbank, CA 95367

Links to References on the History of Easter Eggs:

https://www.thekitchn.com/the-history-of-decorating-easter-eggs-243251

https://www.countryliving.com/life/a26388851/history-of-easter-eggs/

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/easter-symbols