Dyed Greek Easter eggs and how to win at egg tapping

Easter egg tsougrisma is a favourite Greek Easter pastime. Photo: Eurokinissi

27 April 2021 12:22pm

Greek Easter traditions vary around Greece, but no matter where you go, you’ll find a common factor – the red eggs.

Why red?

Boiled and dyed either on Holy Thursday or Saturday, the egg’s shells symbolise the empty rock tomb from which Jesus Christ rose following his Crucifixion.

Another story goes that Mary Magdalene was the first person to have seen the empty tomb of Jesus, and she rushed to inform the Roman emperor of the miracle. He did not believe her and announced he would only believe her claims if the eggs in the basket turned red instantly, which they did.

Then there’s the third variation about Virgin Mary offering eggs to her son’s guards so that they would treat him well, but they turned red when soaked with her tears.

The eggs are dyed red on Holy Thursday to commemorate the Last Supper.

How to play?

The eggs are boiled, coloured and arranged on display until Easter Sunday when the egg striking, known as tsougrisma, begins.

Everyone taps the narrow end first to see which one breaks. The person doing the tapping says “Christos Anesti!” (Christ has risen), and the one being tapped says “Alithos Anesti!” (Indeed, he has). The taps start from the narrow end and then the wide ends of the shell. The last to crack is the winner.

The tradition is not unique to Greece, and also takes place in India, Croatia, Romania and in Jewish culture. In the UK and he US, egg jarping is a competitive sport with strict rules and special diets for the hens of the competitors. There’s even the World Egg Jarping Championships for enthusiasts.

How to win?

Choose the right eggs

White shells are no better than brown ones, however it does play a role if the hens were farm-reared or commercial with free range eggs having harder shells because of the better diet which the chickens.

Boiling process

According to the Egg Jarping Association, it pays to boil the eggs pointy end down to ensure the air pocket at the bottom doesn’t shift to weaken the strength of the shell. Leave the eggs at room temperature and don’t boil directly from the refrigerator. Inspect for cracks.

Making it hard

If you’re hell-bent on winning you can paint the shell with clear nail varnish or a coat of decoupage glue. You can dip the egg in liquid sodium silicate, but make sure you don’t consume your egg afterwards.

Make the right choice

Larger is not necessarily better, so choose eggs which are pristine without any cracks. The pointier the narrow end, the better. Tap the shell on your teeth as a good shell will make a light, high-pitched tap compared to the duller sound of the weaker one.