Easter is soon here. Can't wait to paque eggs. I thought, when I was younger, that it was a custom done only around here. But I found out that it is an old, old custom done throughout the world. For Easter, people break eggs against one another. One person holds while another person taps against it. The loser, the person with the cracked egg, gives his/her egg up.
In catechism we were taught that it symbolizes Jesus rising from the grave/death. His tomb broke and crashed against each other and life is released. Greeks dye their eggs a dark red to symbolize the blood of Jesus. When an egg breaks they say, "Christ is Risen." I thought that was a nice touch with the blood symbolism and saying.
It's more of a fun competitive sport around here. You can cheat with guinea eggs or glue at the end of your egg / nail polish. I've learned that some "plombe" their eggs by inserting a needle at the end and draining it. After it is drained you then refill your egg with resin or syurp to make a stronger shell. Ha! Know that Yard eggs are harder than store bought. Eggs are the product of what a chicken eats and Yard chickens eat all kind of healthy stuff - if they raised right.
The symbolism is great. Jesus rises from the dead. Easter is celebrated in Spring - life from the cold, dreary "death" of Winter.