Easter Eggs Coloured with Onion Skin

Easter is on the threshold...The best Easter decoration and an absolute must of the event is Painted Eggs!!! 
The tradition of the egg colouring has very antique routes and goes back to the Antient Egypt. They used to offer the coloured egg to their pagan gods... then as it usually turned out, the pagan customs were transformed into the ones of such a monotheistic religion as Christianity. But I wouldn't like to enter this very delicate subject of theology... I just want to specify that for the Christians the Red coloured eggs symbolize the Christ's blood shed when he was crucified and, as an egg itself has always meant the fertility and rebirth, for Christians the Easter egg symbolizes the rebirth of Christ after his death on the cross.... 
The eggs are usually painted red in the Eastern Christians' tradition even nowadays, the Catholic Christians though still have a tradition of eating boiled eggs for Easter but use the Chocolate ones as a gift!
As for my own tradition, I combine both: my good old family tradition and my being an eternal child somewhere in my heart... 
So, I paint my Easter eggs in RED and expect a chocolate one with a surprise inside from my husband. 



INGREDIENTS:
Servings: -

~ 5-6 onions
2 tbs salt
1.5 lt water
eggs
vegetable oil



First we prepare the onion dye:

1. Peel the skin of the onion, just the dry part.
Note: I usually start collecting the onion skin a month before Easter comes.
Note: Keep the peeled onions in fridge.
 

2. Use an old pan (it may get painted)
3. Pour 1.5 lt of water into the pan and add the onions skin and 2tbs of salt.

4. Simmer for about 45 minutes, the dye will get a nice dark red colour by the end.
5. Cool the dye with the onion skin.

When the dye is cold we may proceed to boiling the eggs.

6. Choose the eggs that don't have any cracks.

7. As the water is already salted the egg won't break while boiling, so just place the eggs into the pan with the cold dye and cover with the onion skin. The water should cover the eggs completely. 
8. Boil the eggs for 15-20 minutes.
9. Pour some oil on a paper towel and rub it over each egg, they will become very glossy and attractive! This is my great grand mother's secret!!!
Note: The onion skin has an antiseptic property so the boiled eggs will last for many days. You may keep them refrigerated ....
 

         

 Happy Easter !!!