The egg has become a popular Easter symbol. Because eggs were at one time forbidden by the church's Lenten discipline of fasting and abstinence, they were a precious Easter food. Easter eggs are usually given to children, either in Easter baskets or hidden for the children to find. In ancient Egypt and Persia friends exchanged decorated eggs. These eggs were a symbol of fertility for them because they coming forth of a live creature from an egg was so surprising to people of ancient times. Christians of the Near East adopted this tradition, and the Easter egg became a religious symbol. It represented the tomb from which Jesus came forth to new life.
[Source: Supplement to the Sunday Bulletin of February 3, 2008; St. Paul Parish, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.]