Thread: Coloring Ostara Eggs

Some natural ways to do this traditiona Ostara craft
Eggs are one of the predominant symbols of Ostara (aka Spring Equinox), because they represent the life and rebirth that occurs in the Spring. A traditional past-time for Ostara is to color eggs, a craft seen these days around the Christian version of the holiday.

But don't insult Mother Earth by dousing your eggs in chemicals and synthetic dyes, and you don't have to be a master herbologist either.

You can use everyday items from your kitchen to create a whole rainbow of colors to decorate with.

The Technique
You create your natural dye with a mix of water, vinegar and foods or spices that give a strong color. To make 4 cups of dye, you'll need 4 cups of water, 2 tbs of white vinegar, and your dye material. Most spices only require a tablespoon or so, but if you are using chopped fruit or vegetable matter, you'll need a few cups. Experimentation is the key!

Bring everything to a boil, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool, then strain. Dip your hard boiled eggs into the dye for at least 15 minutes. Longer dying = darker color.

The Colors
Pink - beet juice, cranberries, raspberries, red cabbage
Orange - onion skins, paprika
Dark Yellow - tumeric
Light Yellow - lemon peel, carrot shavings, cumin
Light Green - spinach
Blue - blueberries, grape juice
Light Brown - coffee, tea
Dark Brown - chili powder

Get creative with mixing dyes, or usin rubber bands to 'tie-dye' your eggs. Use them to decorate your altar or have an old-fashioned egg hunt.


~ Terri Paajanen


Here is the preferred method for using natural dyes:


Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan. Add water until the eggs are covered.

Add approximately one teaspoon of vinegar.

Add the natural dye. Use more dye material for more eggs or for a more intense color.

Bring water to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

If you are pleased with the color, remove the eggs from the liquid.

If you want more intensely colored eggs, temporarily remove the eggs
from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter (unless you want speckled eggs). Cover the eggs with the filtered dye and let them remain in the refrigerator overnight.

Lavender: Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice, Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice

Violet: Blue Violet Blossoms Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled)

Blue: Canned Blueberries

Red: Cabbage Leaves (boiled)

Purple: Grape Juice

Green: Spinach Leaves (boiled),Liquid Chlorophyll

Greenish Yellow: Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)

Yellow: Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled) Carrot Tops (boiled) Celery Seed (boiled) Ground Cumin (boiled) Ground Turmeric (boiled)

Brown: Strong Coffee, Instant Coffee

Black: Walnut Shells (boiled)

Orange: Yellow Onion Skins (boiled)

Pink: Beets Cranberries or Juice Raspberries, Red Grape Juice, Juice from Pickled Beets

Red: Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled)


You can use fresh and frozen berries as 'paints', too. Simply crush the berries against dry boiled eggs. Try coloring on the eggs with crayons or wax pencils before boiling and dyeing them.

yw
found more just adding to this
ostra crafts and recipies
http://paganwiccan.about.com/gi/dyna...t2003.htm%23O5

my kids are going to love this! Thanks!

yvw