The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

Easter is a holiday of the Blessed Resurrection of Christ. A major Christian celebration takes place in memory of sufferings, martyr death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Russia Easter was introduced at the end of the X century.
As many others Christian holidays in Russia Easter absorbed Christian doctrines and ancient pagan beliefs and worships. Starting as long ago as the pagan times in Russia there has been a tradition to paint eggs in the red color. A red egg was considered to be a symbol of the sun and worshiping it ancient people paid tribute to the spring solstice, celebrated awakening of nature after winter.

The tradition of painting eggs for Easter is connected with Maria Magdalena who found out about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, came to the emperor Tiberius and presented him an egg saying: "Christ has arisen!" The emperor expressed a doubt: "It is so difficult to believe in it just as to believe that a white egg can become red!" And in that moment the egg became red. Easter Egg was one of the faith doctrines and was a visible sign of resurrection from death.

Easter was celebrated with family, people came to their relatives and close friends and such a celebration lasted 7 days, the whole holy week. In Easter elegant colored eggs acted not only as a part of ceremony but as gifts and presents. On the blessed Sunday there was a custom of common kissing. When people met at Easter, they took a painted egg, greeted each other saying: "Christ has arisen!"-listened in reply "Arisen indeed!", kissed each other three times and gifted Easter eggs.

From ancient times Russian tsars presented specially prepared painted eggs to their confidants. Besides painted natural eggs, special gift souvenir eggs were being prepared for Easter. They were created from wood, papier-mache, porcelain, glass, stone and precious metals. In XVIII-XIX centuries at the court of Russian emperors Easter celebration ceremonial was also accompanied by presenting gifts: Easter eggs (mainly porcelain and glass ones), decorative vases, table sets and jewelry. Easter eggs featured miniatures with Biblical scenes, views of St. Petersburg and Moscow, ornaments and coats of arms.

From the middle of 1880-s Imperial Porcelain Factory by the order of Alexander III started producing Easter porcelain eggs with monograms of Russian Emperors. At the end of XIX - beginning of XX century the Russian Emperor family was receiving by Easter about 300 porcelain eggs decorated with Biblical scenes and tsars' monograms and about 5000 eggs with flower and ornamental patterns.
From the end of XVIII century colored stone started to be used in creating Easter eggs. After carving and polishing eggs obtained goldish or silver-pearl brilliance and seemed to emit light. Since there was not any Easter graphic symbols on stone eggs, they were presented not only at Easter but at Christmas, birthdays and name days.
Craftsmen of Palekh and Mstera (ancient villages with old traditions of the Russian folk art) created lacquered miniatures on eggs from papier-mache.
Among Easter Eggs the world famous name was gained by Fabergé's jewelry firm that created eggs with surprises from gold, silver and precious stones. Jewelry miniature eggs were very popular gifts and collectibles among rich Russians at the edge of XIX-XX centuries. People collected them in necklaces, pendants, bracelets and wore them during the Easter week according to the well-established traditions.
Imperial and private fabrics and works, best artists, jewelers and craftsmen took part in creating Easter souvenirs.

Egg-Shaped Necessaire
France
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Liqueur-glass-Egg
Unknown jeweller with an initial "D"
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Seal with a grand prince's coat of arms
Fabergé's firm
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Pendant Shaped like a Sprig of a Lily of the Valley
Fabergé's firm
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Pendant
Fabergé's firm
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Pendant Shaped like an Amphora
Fabergé's firm
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