Leslie Massey
Decorating eggs is a popular Easter tradition in Austria. Austrians paint eggs in various colours and patterns, ranging from single-coloured eggs to intricate works of art. The eggs are often hung on thin tree branches, usually willow, placed in a vase to create an Osterbaum (Easter tree). Austrians also enjoy the tradition of egg pecking, where two opponents hold a hard-boiled egg each and knock the ends against each other, similar to conkers. While some people opt to buy ready-coloured eggs from supermarkets, many prefer to make their own at home by boiling eggs in food colouring or using paint and dyes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painting | Single-coloured or multi-coloured, using acrylic paint or food dyes |
| Blowing out the egg | Use a pin to make a hole on either end of the egg, then blow through the top hole |
| Decorating | Hang painted eggs on an Osterbaum (Easter tree) |
| Other materials | Wood, plastic, polystyrene |
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What You'll Learn
Blowing out the egg
To blow out the egg, start by washing the egg in warm water and patting it dry. Using a pin, carefully poke holes on both ends of the egg. It is recommended to make the holes slightly larger, around 4 to 6 pin pricks big, as this will make the blowing easier. Once the holes are made, use a toothpick to break the yolk inside the egg.
Now, hold the egg steady with both hands and blow through the top hole. Make sure to have a bowl underneath to catch the egg whites and yolks, which can be used later for baking. This step may take a bit of practice, but with patience, it can be done in one breath! Alternatively, you can use a turkey baster or any other type of "bulb syringe" for this step, although it may take a little longer.
Once the egg is empty, you can decorate the egg with paint or other materials. Austrian Easter eggs are often brightly coloured or feature intricate patterns and designs. You can use acrylic paint, food dyes, or even natural dyes like onion skins to create your desired look.
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Using food colouring
In Austria, it is customary to decorate eggshells during Easter. The egg's contents are removed, and the outside is then painted or coloured using beads, fabrics, or other materials. Many Austrians opt to make their own dyed eggs at home by boiling them in food colouring.
To make your own Austrian Easter eggs using food colouring, you will need the following:
- Eggs
- Boiling or very hot water: 1/2 cup for every colour you'll use
- Food colouring: liquid or gel food colouring works best
- White vinegar: 1 teaspoon for every 1/2 cup of water
- Heatproof mugs or bowls: one for each colour
- Spoons or tongs for lifting and turning the eggs
- Wire cooling rack or paper towels for drying
- Optional: plastic table cover and smocks
First, hard-boil the eggs. Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover them with water, making sure there's about an inch of water above the eggs. Bring the water to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let it sit for 12 to 15 minutes. Drain the water and cool the eggs by running them under cold water.
Next, prepare your dye. For each colour, pour 1/2 cup of boiling water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, and 10-20 drops of food colouring into a heatproof mug or bowl. Experiment with different colours by mixing yellow, red, and blue food colouring.
Once your dye is ready, dip the eggs into the coloured water and leave them as long as needed to achieve the desired shade. Use a whisk or an egg holder to avoid splashing and prevent the eggs from rolling away.
When you're happy with the colour, remove the eggs from the dye and let them dry on a wire cooling rack or paper towels. You can also place them back in their cardboard carton. Once the tops of the eggs are dry, flip them so the bottoms can dry too.
Finally, store your coloured eggs in the fridge until you're ready to use them. You can incorporate them into an Easter brunch board or use them for an Easter egg hunt.
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Painting flowers
Blowing the Egg:
First, you need to empty the contents of the egg. This can be done by blowing the egg through a small hole in the top or bottom. You can use a pin or a toothpick to make the hole and gently widen it to fit a knot through. Be careful not to break the egg! This method is eco-friendly and thrifty, as you can use the egg for cooking and only need simple materials like a ribbon, a pin, and some paint.
For a simple flower design, start with one dot in the middle of the egg, then add 5-6 dots around it. Space them evenly, but don't worry too much about perfect spacing, as flowers can vary in shape and size. Let the paint dry, and feel free to add more colours or details as desired. You can use acrylic paint, watercolour paint, or even food dye mixed with water and vinegar to create bold and vibrant colours.
Adding Details:
Once your flowers are dry, you can add additional details to your egg, such as leaves, stems, or grass. You can also use other materials like beads, fabrics, or ribbons to decorate your egg further. Get creative and use whatever catches your imagination!
Displaying Your Egg:
After you've finished painting and decorating your egg, it's time to display it! You can hang your egg by tying a thread or ribbon to the pin or toothpick. The pin and string will form an upside-down 'T' inside the egg, holding it in place. You can also place your egg in a basket or on a branch, creating a beautiful Easter or springtime display.
Austrian Easter Traditions:
In Austria, decorating eggshells is a popular tradition, and you can find many brightly coloured and creatively designed eggs at Vienna's Easter markets. Austrians also enjoy playing games with hard-boiled eggs, such as clashing eggs to see whose egg cracks first. So, whether you're painting flowers or trying out other designs, decorating Easter eggs is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and bring joy to yourself and others.
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Hanging the eggs
To hang your own painted eggs, you will need to blow out the egg contents. Hold the egg steady and blow through the top hole, catching the egg whites and yolks in a bowl. You can also use a turkey baster or any other type of bulb syringe. Make sure to wash the eggshells in warm water and pat them dry before painting. Poke holes on both ends of the eggs with a pin, and use a toothpick to break the yolk inside the egg.
For painting, you can use acrylic paint or food dye. If using food dye, mix 10-20 drops with 1/2 cup of water and a tablespoon of white vinegar. You can paint simple designs, such as flowers, or more intricate patterns. Let the paint dry, then tie a thread or ribbon to a pin or broken toothpick. Push the pin and knot through the hole in the egg, making sure the hole is big enough to fit the knot. Hang the eggs from the Easter tree, and enjoy your handiwork!
In addition to hanging painted eggs, Austrians also hang unpainted, coloured eggs. These can be bought pre-coloured from supermarkets, or you can make your own by boiling eggs in food colouring. Red seems to be the most popular colour.
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Boiling the eggs
First, wash the eggs in warm water and gently pat them dry with a cloth or kitchen paper. This ensures that the eggs are clean and free of any dirt or bacteria.
Next, use a pin to carefully poke holes on both ends of the eggs. The holes should be big enough for a toothpick to fit through. Making slightly larger holes can make the next step easier.
Then, use a toothpick to break the yolk inside the egg and gently stir the inside of the egg to mix the yolk and the whites. This step helps in removing the egg's contents more effectively.
Now, it's time to blow! Hold the egg steady with both hands and blow through the top hole. You can also use a turkey baster or a bulb syringe for this step. Ensure that you collect the egg whites and yolks in a bowl as they can be used for cooking later.
After blowing out the egg contents, rinse the eggs again gently with warm water, and they will be ready for decorating. You can also use food colouring to dye the eggs by mixing 10-20 drops of food colouring with 1/2 cup of water and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Alternatively, you can paint the eggs with acrylic paint or create your own designs with dots and flowers.
Finally, you can hang your beautifully decorated eggs on an Osterbaum (Easter tree), a traditional Austrian custom where thin branches, usually willow, are put in a vase and decorated with ribbons, eggs, and other ornamental items.
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Frequently asked questions
First, wash your eggs in warm water and pat them dry. Then, poke holes on either end of the eggs with a pin. You can make the holes 4-6 pin pricks big, or make them smaller if you want to make blowing out the egg contents more challenging. Next, use a toothpick to break the yolk inside the egg. Finally, blow through the top hole to get rid of the egg's contents.
You can use acrylic paint or food dye. If you opt for food dye, mix 10-20 drops with 1/2 cup of water and a tablespoon of white vinegar.
Paint flowers by making one dot in the middle of the egg and surrounding it with 5-6 dots. Space them evenly, but don't worry too much about exact spacing.
