An egg has long ago been the symbol of Easter. Since ancient times, the egg has served as a symbol of the spring sun, that brings rebirth, joy, warmth, light, the revival of nature, deliverance from the shackles of frost and snow. It was once customary to offer an egg as a gift to pagan gods, to give eggs to friends and benefactors on the first day of the New Year and on their birthday. Rich, wealthy people, instead of painted chicken eggs, often presented golden or gilded eggs, symbolizing the sun. For our ancestors, the egg served as a symbol of life. It contains the germ of a solar bird - the Rooster, waking up the morning.

The tradition of exchanging colored eggs for Easter has long roots in Russia. Easter eggs were made from a wide variety of materials and in different techniques. Since the beginning of the 17^th century, the main manufacturers of these souvenirs in Russia have been the Armory and icon-painting workshops subordinate to large monasteries. It was from there that the royal court, as well as noble boyar families, were supplied with wood or bone carved, richly painted and decorated Easter objects. From the middle of the 18^th century, eggs were of glass and porcelain, and the Imperial Porcelain Factory performed the bulk of orders. Interestingly, in the early 19^th century, dangling porcelain eggs were very popular, which were decorated with elegant silk ribbons and were suspended beneath the icons. A bit later Easter eggs from papier-mâché created by miniature lacquer painting workshops in Palekh, Mstyora and Fedoskino came into fashion.

Since the middle of the 19^th century, the production of Easter souvenirs turned to one of the important areas of work of various jewelry workshops. The eggs were made of silver and gold, decorated with enamel, beads, filigree and precious stones. Sometimes masters experimented with unconventional materials - rock crystal, multifarious fine wood species. Undoubtedly, Easter eggs made by order of the Imperial family in the workshops of Carl Faberge were immensely popular. Easter eggs-surprises were created there - with clockwork mechanisms, miniature figures, portrait medallions. The highest performance technique, rich decoration, artisanship and imagination of artists, all this stipulated the worldwide recognition.

On the eve of the holiday, we have prepared a video clip  "Easter souvenirs from the museum Collection repository".

Dear friends, once more we congratulate you on the spring holidays and wish health, endurance, high spirits and optimism to you and your loved ones!