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Chinese red eggs (, 紅雞蛋) are bright pink coloured cooked chicken eggs used in Chinese cuisine. The eggs are first hard boiled before a wet red
calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...
paper is wiped over the eggs to create a pink coloring. In Chinese culture, it is common to hold a red egg and ginger party at the baby's first-year birthday. Usually, the baby's name is announced to friends and family at this party. One might find a bowl of brightly coloured cooked chicken eggs on the guests' buffet or serving tables, or the hosts might hand out the red-dyed eggs, symbolizing joy and renewed life. Sometimes the red eggs are also given to adult friends and family members for their birthdays.


Origin and folklore

Similar to Western
Easter egg Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are decorated for the Christian feast of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). The oldest tr ...
s, in Chinese culture eggs symbolize birth or a new start; thus, it is of paramount importance for eggs to be served to guests during an important birthday (such as the first month or first year). The color red symbolizes prosperity and good fortune to the Chinese.


Influence outside China


Mauritius

In
Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...
, Sino-Mauritians continued the tradition of sharing red eggs to their family members to share the joy of a newborn; this tradition occurs in what is now called "baptême chinois" (literally translated as Chinese
baptism Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
).


See also

* Smoked egg *
Tea egg Tea egg is a typical Chinese savory food commonly sold as a snack, in which a boiled egg is cracked slightly and then boiled again in tea, and sauce or spices. It is also known as marble egg because cracks in the egg shell create darkened li ...


References

Chinese cuisine Vietnamese cuisine Mauritian cuisine Eggs (food) {{Vietnam-cuisine-stub