Red Eggs and Easter Bunnies

The Eastern Orthodox Tradition of the Red Paschal Egg and Mary Magdalene’s Encounter with the Emperor

Origin of the Tradition

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the custom of exchanging red eggs at Easter (Pascha) is deeply rooted in a legendary encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Roman Emperor, traditionally identified as Tiberius Caesar (not Nero). After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to proclaim the Gospel and, according to tradition, to protest the actions of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, before the emperor34.

The Legend of the Red Egg

During her audience, Mary Magdalene presented the emperor with a simple egg and greeted him with the words, “Christ is risen!” The emperor, skeptical of the resurrection, reportedly replied that a human rising from the dead was as unlikely as the egg in her hand turning red. At that moment, the egg miraculously turned a brilliant red, confirming her testimony of Christ’s resurrection1345. This miracle became a powerful symbol for Christians, representing new life and Christ’s victory over death.

Symbolism of the Red Egg

The egg itself symbolizes new life, rebirth, and hope. In Christian tradition, the shell represents Christ’s sealed tomb, and cracking the egg open symbolizes His resurrection1.

The red color signifies the blood Christ shed during His Passion and the new life granted through His sacrifice15.

The tradition of dyeing eggs red and exchanging them at Pascha is especially prominent in Greek Orthodox practice, but is found throughout the Orthodox world23.

Liturgical and Cultural Practice

Red eggs are often distributed or exchanged among the faithful at the conclusion of Paschal services, though this is a pious custom rather than a formal liturgical rite2.

The blessing of eggs (and other foods) at Pascha is common, but not universal, and is more a reflection of local custom than a mandated part of Orthodox liturgy2.

Mary Magdalene’s Role

Mary Magdalene is honored as “Equal to the Apostles” in the Orthodox Church for her unwavering faith and her role as the first witness to the Resurrection. The story of the red egg underscores her boldness in proclaiming the risen Christ, even before the highest earthly authority13.

Summary Table: The Red Paschal Egg Tradition

Element	Description
Key Figure	Mary Magdalene
Emperor	Tiberius Caesar (not Nero)
Event	Mary presents a white egg, proclaims “Christ is risen”; egg turns red miraculously
Symbolism	Egg = new life; Red = Christ’s blood and resurrection
Orthodox Practice	Exchange of red eggs at Pascha; blessing of eggs and foods at Easter
Iconography	Mary Magdalene often depicted holding a red egg in Orthodox iconography

Clarification on Nero

While some sources may conflate or confuse the emperors, the established tradition in Orthodox and broader Christian lore identifies Tiberius Caesar, not Nero, as the emperor in the story of the red Paschal egg34. Nero is not associated with this particular legend.

The red Paschal egg, rooted in the legendary encounter between Mary Magdalene and Tiberius Caesar, remains a vivid symbol of the Resurrection in Eastern Orthodox tradition, celebrated through the exchange of red eggs at Easter as a testament to Christ’s victory over death and the bold witness of Mary Magdalene. 

The tradition of the red Paschal egg in Eastern Orthodoxy is more than a festive custom—it is a vibrant witness to the reality of the Resurrection, rooted in the bold faith of Mary Magdalene, the first to proclaim “Christ is risen!” to the world. Her legendary encounter with Emperor Tiberius, confirmed by the miraculous transformation of the egg, continues to inspire Orthodox Christians to proclaim the risen Lord with courage and joy. As we exchange red eggs at Pascha, we are not only celebrating new life, but also participating in the ancient and unbroken testimony that Christ has trampled down death by death, offering life to all. In every red egg shared, the Church echoes Mary’s fearless proclamation: “Christ is Risen!”

Next, Here's a thoughtful explanation reframing the "Easter Bunny" as a Christian symbol of multiplication and spiritual rebirth, especially in the context of Orthodox Pascha:

“Easter Bunny” : Language is filled with Animal Related Metaphors

Animal Metaphors and the Multiplication of Joy

Language is full of animal-based metaphors, drawn from the natural world to describe human qualities, behaviors, and ideals. These metaphors are not seen as pagan or superstitious—they are poetic expressions of truth, drawing on the observable traits of animals to convey meaning. We speak of people who are:

Swift as a gazelle
Sly as a fox
Strong as a bull
Brave as a lion
Loyal as a dog
Wise as an owl
Quiet as a mouse
Slippery as an eel
Proud as a peacock
Stubborn as a mule
Sneaky as a weasel
Gentle as a lamb
Busy as a bee
Happy as a clam
Free as a bird
Tough as a badger
Cold as a fish
Cunning as a cat
Noisy as a crow
Fierce as a tiger
Blind as a bat
Hungry as a wolf
Playful as a puppy
Dirty as a pig
Crazy as a loon
Dumb as an ox
Caged like a bird

These expressions reflect how deeply animals are woven into our language and culture—not as idols, but as mirrors of creation, communicating insight into human experience through God’s creation. In this light, the Easter Bunny—a creature known for rapid and abundant reproduction—is just another such image: a metaphor for the joyful, multiplying life of the Church during the Paschal season.

Rabbits are associated with spring because it is their natural season of birth and fertility, which corresponds perfectly to the Paschal themes of new life, spiritual rebirth, and the explosion of joy that follows Christ’s Resurrection. Just as the tomb bursts open with the power of eternal life, so too does the Church explode with the entrance of newly illumined souls—baptized, chrismated, and born again in Christ during the Paschal feast.

So rather than dismiss the rabbit as a secular distraction or a vestige of pagan fertility rites, we can reclaim it as a natural symbol of resurrection abundance. The Easter Bunny is not a rival to the Gospel—but a springtime metaphor that points, even unwittingly, to the multiplication of Christians, the spreading of light, and the joy of life after death.

Though often dismissed as a secular or commercial symbol, the image of the Easter Bunny can be reinterpreted through the lens of Orthodox Christian theology as a sign of new life and rapid spiritual multiplication, rather than a pagan borrowing. In the natural world, rabbits are known for their abundant fertility, particularly in the springtime. In the Church, Pascha—the Feast of Feasts—has traditionally been the time when catechumens are received into the Church, baptized or chrismated, and reborn as full members of the Body of Christ. Thus, just as spring gives birth to countless rabbits, Pascha gives birth to multitudes of new Christians, who now bear witness to the Resurrection of Christ.

This symbolism finds harmony with the biblical command in Genesis 1:28: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” In the New Covenant, this command is not abolished, but transfigured. Christ extends it to the spiritual realm when He commissions His apostles in Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The Church, as the Bride of Christ, is called to be fertile—not only biologically through the family, but spiritually, by bringing forth new sons and daughters through baptism and chrismation.

In this light, the "Easter Bunny" becomes a charming yet profound metaphor for the explosive growth of the Christian family at Pascha. It echoes the joy of the Resurrection, the fruitfulness of the Gospel, and the divine desire to see the whole world filled with the light of Christ. Like the first believers after Pentecost who multiplied daily (Acts 2:47), the newly illumined Christians of Pascha continue that work of divine multiplication—filling the world not with rabbits, but with the radiant life of the Resurrection.

So rather than viewing the Easter Bunny as a pagan relic, we can see it—like many symbols of spring—as a providential pointer to the spiritual fertility of the Church, as she brings forth new life in Christ and fulfills the command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).