To Christians the Easter egg is symbolic for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Early Christians of Mesopotamia stained eggs red, in memory of the blood Christ shed at his crucifixion. The Christian church officially adopted the custom of the eggs as a symbol of the resurrection in 1610. The egg symbolizes the tomb Jesus rose from.

Eggs also seem to have become part of the spring holiday simply because of the time of year Christians took lent. Christians would abstain from eating eggs, meat, or any kind of animal product, then lent ended with the arrival of Easter. It was the first chance to eat eggs after a long period of abstinence. Eggs were commonly boiled to be saved from spoiling, and finally eaten on Easter, they were most likely especially tasty. In modern times, the eggs are especially boiled and decorated specifically for Easter.

In Europe the tradition of painting eggs is still practiced. In Slovenia, families dye eggs red according to custom. The use of onion skin is utilized to present red eggs to the dining table, and some eggs are beautifully crafted with the use of spring flowers and gauze. Sometimes designs are carved into the eggshell with hot beeswax and rubbed in pig fat. In Greece eggs are always dyed strictly red, and in Italy large chocolate eggs hide gifts for loved ones.