Celebrating Greek Easter with little ones
Hello friends! The sight of the first daffodils (after a very harsh Scottish winter) got me thinking about natural Easter egg dye.
Easter is just around the corner, and at the time of writing this article in 2025, Orthodox and Western Easter coincide, which is a quite uncommon occurrence. As a mum in a Greek / British family who celebrates both Easters, I am looking forward to this happy accidental merger: I am more than ready to hide chocolate eggs in our privet AND dye eggs red all in the same week.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend products and services I love.
I love finding ways to celebrate traditions in fun, natural and family-friendly ways. In this article I’ll walk you through our Easter egg dyeing, using nothing but onion peels and vinegar. This method honours the Orthodox custom of red Easter eggs while offering a safe, chemical‑free, and creative activity for kids. Plus, it’s a wonderful opportunity to share multicultural heritage (and, in our case, teach a bit of Greek along the way!).
The Tradition Behind the Red Egg
Pinterest Easter is a pastel-coloured festival: lilac eggs hanging from branches, mint-blue macarons served on yellow gingham plates, pink tulips, pale rainbow outfits. And it IS gorgeous, but let me tell you: Greek Orthodox Easter is all about the colour red, more so than Christmas, even. Red eggs hold deep a symbolism representing blood and sacrifice, as well as the promise of new life and resurrection. Hence in the old days (the 90s 😂) we only ever dyed our Easter eggs red.
Now of course, if my kids grow up and really wish for pink and blue eggs, that’s not a cross to die on (pun not intended) – we’re really all about cherry picking, mixing and matching and creating our own traditions along the way. Still, for the purposes of this article, we’ll be sticking to red, and swapping the store-bought sachets for natural easter egg dye!
Why Go Natural?
A little generational research within my own family revealed that egg-dyeing in rural Greece in the 50s and 60s was achieved with an unspecified “food and fabric dye” from the grocery store, sold by the teaspoon and packed to go in a piece of oven parchment. No one knows exactly what substance that was, and if you do please let me know.
Fast forwarding a couple of decades, little sachets marketed specifically for Easter egg dyeing were readily available, even in the general store of our little village. While store‑bought dyes are convenient and approved for use in food, you can save yourself at least six E numbers by choosing to dye eggs with onion peels, a completely natural and non‑toxic method. It is safe, eco‑friendly, and completely free, assuming you use onions in your cooking anyway.
Brown vs. Red Onion Skins: What’s the Difference?
When using onion peels you can experiment a little if you want, to achieve varying shades of red:
- Brown Onion Skins: These generally yield a lighter, more amber‑red tone. Your eggs will still be red! If that’s all you have, don’t go out looking for red onions. I was very incredulous when I first did this, because I couldn’t conceive how the pale yellow onion skins can make a red dye. I still can’t, but there we go. Brown onions work just fine and your eggs will be a soft, warm red hue (ever so slightly more on the orange side if you’re using white eggs).
- Red Onion Skins: Red onion skins produce a deeper, richer red or even a maroon shade. The hues can range a little from reddish purple if using brown eggs, to deep pink if using white eggs. This is a more intense and dramatic colour.
Feel free to mix them if you want to create your own unique shade.
A Step‑by‑Step Guide to Dyeing Your Eggs
What You’ll Need:
- Eggs (did you see this one coming?): Hard‑boiled (white eggs show colour best, brown eggs give a more rustic look).
- Onion peels: A handful of dried brown or red (or a mix) onion skins.
- Water and vinegar: About 2 litres (half a gallon) of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar (the vinegar helps the dye adhere to the eggshell).
- A pot: A medium‑sized, non‑reactive pot.
- A slotted spoon: For safely removing the eggs.
- Paper towels & a little oil: To dry and polish the eggs for a natural shine.
Method
- Prepare the dye:
Place the onion skins in a pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. - Cool the dye:
Remove the pot and let the onion skin dye cool down a little. For a deeper color, you can allow the mixture to steep for a bit longer, even up to a couple of hours. - Strain:
Strain the liquid and add a splash of vinegar. I did not do this! If you don’t strain it and you dip your eggs straight in there, the peels are likely to create some uneven patches on the shells. Do as I say not as I did. You now have a natural Easter egg dye! - Dye the eggs:
Gently place your cooled, hard‑boiled eggs into the pot. Make sure they’re fully submerged in the dye. Let them sit for at least 15–20 minutes. (For a deeper shade, leave them a little longer, or even refrigerate them in the dye overnight.) - Finish up:
Remove the eggs with the slotted spoon and let them cool on a paper towel. Once dry, gently rub a small amount of oil on each egg to bring out a natural shine.
A Fun Activity for the Whole Family
So here we go, there’s an exciting afternoon for you 😛! Not only is this method wonderfully natural and safe, but it also turns into a fantastic activity for the kids. They can help gather the onion peels, stir the dye (with supervision), and watch the magic colour transformation. Once your eggs are ready don’t forget to play tsougrisma, the traditional Greek egg tapping Easter game.
While we’re busy with this craft, we get to share stories and vocabulary from both Greek and British cultures. It’s a fun way to pass down traditions and language to our little ones while celebrating the joy and hope of Easter.
We also really got into eggs in general while doing this, so I’m going to link you our current favourite egg-related books here.
Side note: Wait! If you love any of the books below, don’t rush over to paste the title into Amazon’s search bar. For literally a few pennies extra, you can support your local independent bookshops and put a smile on an actual person’s face by buying through bookshop.org ☺️.
Many thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy making this natural Easter egg dye this year. And if you’re into Greek Easter and have little kids, have a look at this list of Greek Easter Traditions for Kids Growing Up Abroad (it comes with a free printable).
Happy Easter, Καλή Ανάσταση!
Until next time,
M.