Symbols (not totally in alphabetical order so I can put similar or linked symbols together, for instance birds and rooster and hen):
Symbols are often combined to provide more complex meaning. For instance, St Andrew’s Crosses (symbol of the whole Christian Church) placed in a row touching each other form squares (symbol of earthly existence) between them. The row may continue around the egg and rejoin itself in an unbroken band, symbolizing eternity. The square may be filled with some other symbol, such as the daisy (purity). The joining of these in this manner would symbolize the church enveloping and purifying the earth for all eternity. Probably either eight (resurrection) or twelve (disciples and thus evangelism) squares/crosses would be used. A complex egg may indeed prove the adage about a picture being equal to a thousand words.
Symbols are intended to suggest the item rather than portray it, and realism is not desirable. This makes interpretation of an egg even more interesting, as often a symbol may be interpreted in more than one way.
Anchor: Hope and steadfastness. (Hebrews 6: 19).
Arrow: Generally used to suggest a spiritual weapon dedicated to the service of God.
Birds: fertility, peace, blessings, Holy Spirit
Rooster: Good fortune, masculinity, dawn
Hens: fertility
Bee: Symbol of activity, diligence, work, and good order. Because it produces honey, it is also the symbol of sweetness and religious eloquence. The beehive is the symbol of a pious and unified community. Honey is a symbol for Christ.
Butterfly: Symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. May symbolize the resurrection of all men. Caterpillar, chrysalis, and the butterfly represent life, death and resurrection.
Comb or Rake: Symbolizes a good harvest. Sometimes rain symbols. Often looks much like the sieve or net.
Crown: Symbolizes royalty. Crown of Thorns represents the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ.
Deer: Humanity, nature, wealth
Horns: Nobility, wisdom, triumph, a curse
Dove: Symbol of purity and peace. More importantly it symbolizes the Holy Ghost, as in the story of the baptism of Christ.
Egg: Symbol of hope and resurrection, an emblem of the Eucharist.
Fish: Most frequently symbolizes Christ. This is because the five Greek letters forming the word ‘fish’ are the initial letters of the five words: ‘Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior’. Also symbol of baptism.
Serpent: Represents the events in the Garden of Eden; the Fall from Grace.
Shell: Particularly the cockleshell or scallop shell is used to signify pilgrimage.
Spiderweb: Symbol of human frailty. Might be a net, or a sieve, which can mean fishing for men or conversely, entrapment.
Rose: The Nativity of our Lord. (Similar to a complex star, and can best be told from a star by context. Used less frequently than stars, so if you’re not sure, assume a star.)
The gently hooked line suggests the bowed head of a maiden, symbolizing purity. Depending on context, it may also represent the shepherd’s staff, indicating the protection of the Great Shepherd.
Deer or other animals represent prosperity and dependence on bounty of the Lord.
Daisy: The sweet simplicity of the daisy has come to represent the innocence of the Christ child.
Doubled Daisy: As the daisy represents Christ, the doubled daisy represents the dual human/divine nature of Christ.
Grain: Wheat is a symbol of the Eucharist, and suggests the human nature of Christ. Ears of grain and bunches of grapes are used to symbolize the bread and wine of Holy Communion, and represents the Body of Christ. Has long been used as a fertility symbol.
Grapes: Ears of grain and bunches of grapes are used to symbolize the bread and wine of Holy Communion. In general the grape symbolizes the Blood of Christ. The grape vine or leaf is used as an emblem of the Savior, the ‘true vine’.
Vine: In the Bible it is used to express the relationship between God and His people. The vineyard is the protected place where the children of God (vines) flourish under the protected care of God (the Keeper of the Vineyard). A vine may (like a circle) represent eternity.
Light: Symbolic of Christ (John 8: 12).
Shepherds crook: protection, rescue
Star: Symbol of divine guidance and favor ( Star of the East). Twelve stars may symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel or the 12 Apostles. The number of points on the star may also have special meaning, as explained later.
Water / Waves: Symbol of cleansing and purifying , as in the sacrament of baptism. It also denotes innocence (Pilate washed his hands of guilt). Sometimes used to suggest trouble or tribulation. Waves recall Christ walking on the water. In an unbroken band they suggest eternity.
Wheel: Symbol of divine power.
Circle: As it has no beginning or end, the circle or ring is used to represent eternity. The continuous belt or ribbon circling the egg is called the “Endless Line” and may represent eternity or immortality.
Triangle: The triangle (especially the equilateral triangle, with its three equal parts), is the symbol of the Trinity. Any three like items may also represent the Trinity. A triangle can also represent a cloud and thus rain.
Star: Symbol of divine guidance and favor ( Star of the East).
Sieve: Filters good from bad. My represent the church, or God’s judgment. Might be a net!
Square: Symbol of the earth and an earthly existence.
Pentagram: A five-pointed star-shaped figure, it suggests the five wounds of Christ upon the Cross.
Net, Cross-hatch pattern: suggests fishing for men; discipleship (several apostles were fishermen); good harvest; If it’s a spiderweb it may mean entrapment; if it’s a sieve it’s the separation of good from bad or useless, or good harvest.
Cross: In its many forms, it always is a symbol of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.
Eight-pointed star: A traditional Ukrainian design which was formerly associated with a sungod; when they accepted Christianity, it became a symbol of Christ.
Dot: Represent the stars in the heavens or the tears of Mary.
Waves: Miracles (Christ walking on water); water or rain (good crops).
TAU Cross: Salvation promised but not yet accomplished.
CROSS CROSSLET: The spread of Christianity to the North, South, East and West.
Jerusalem Cross: Cross Crosslet with four smaller crosses symbolize his followers carrying the Gospel to the corners of the world.
PASSION CROSS: (A cross with pointed ends) The suffering of Jesus; the four points represent the nails, the thorns, and the spear.
ST. ANDREWS CROSS: Symbolizes the whole Christian church.
CROSS PAT’EE: with four scrolls, the four Gospels.
Colors:
Black: In the Middle ages black was associated with witchcraft. However, in Christian art black and black and white together symbolize humility and purity of life , as in the habits of certain religious orders. Black, as the traditional color of mourning, is the liturgical color for Good Friday, the day of Christ’s Crucifixion. Has been used to represent remembrance and eternity.
Since the universe was created from the black void it can represent void, beginnings, creation, or background.
Blue: The color of the sky, it symbolizes Heaven and heavenly love. It is the color of truth.
Green: Reward. As the color of vegetation and spring, it may symbolizes the triumph of life over death ( as spring triumphs over winter). As a mixture of yellow and blue, it suggests charity and the regeneration of the soul through good works.
Purple: It has always been associated with royalty, and thus is the symbol of God the Father. Purple is also the color of sorrow and penitence. Sometimes trust
Red: Traditionally represents the Saving Blood of Christ; the Resurrection. Love.
White: Symbolizes purity, innocence of soul and holiness of life.
Yellow: A golden yellow is the emblem of the sun, and of divinity, and of revealed truth. (However it has been used to suggest treason and deceit, as stained white.)
Gold: Symbolizes eternity, immortality, and is associated with kings.
Orange: Endurance, strength, power
The number of elements:
One: Symbol of unity.
Two: Symbol of the two natures of Christ, human and divine.
Three: Suggests the Trinity, and the three days Christ spent in the tomb.
Four: In Christian art, usually used to represent the four Evangelists.
Five: Represents the five wounds of Christ.
Six: Is the number of creation and perfection symbolizing divine power, majesty, wisdom, love, mercy, and justice.
Seven: Symbolizes charity, grace, and the Holy Spirit.
Eight: Resurrection, because it was on the eighth day after His Entry into Jerusalem that Christ rose from the grave.
Nine: Angelic. Also God, as it is a Triune Trinity.
Ten: The Ten Commandments
Twelve: The number of the Apostles. Sometimes used to represent the entire church.
Thirteen: Faithlessness and betrayal.
Forty: symbolic of probation or trail (ex. Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years).
Suggested References:
Signs & Symbols in Christian Art, by George Ferguson. Published by University Press, New York. 1967.
An Egg At Easter, by Venetia Newell. Published by Indiana University Press, Boston, Mass. 1971.
Journal of the National Geographic Society, vol. 141, no. 4, April, 1972.
Chrismons Christian Year Series, Third Edition, 1972, The Lutheran Church of the Ascension.
Example of “reading” a particular egg
There are six stars on the egg; six is the number of creation and perfection symbolizing divine power, majesty, wisdom, love, mercy, and justice.
The stars are arranged into three continuous bands. Three is the symbol of the Trinity; note also that as in the Trinity the three bands share the same six elements (stars) and cannot be separated from one another, but form one whole as well as three distinct parts. The bands are yellow (divinity and revealed truth); the stars rimmed in red (the blood of Christ), and filled in black, the liturgical color for Good Friday, the day of Christ’s Crucifixion.
The star in general is the symbol of divine guidance and favor (Star of the East). The cross-shaped eight-pointed star in particular is a traditional design formerly was associated with a sun-god, but when the worshipers converted to Christianity it was converted as a Christian symbol because of both the star and it’s resemblance to a cross. This redeeming of the pagan symbol to Christian suggests salvation via conversion. The number eight is also representative of resurrection, because it was on the eighth day after His Entry into Jerusalem that Christ rose from the grave. The shepherd’s crooks in the center of the stars are symbolic of protect ion of the Lord, which naturally follows conversion.
The egg when inverted or turned upside-down (the big end is normally considered the bottom) shows a deer (symbolic of all nature) seeking and calling out under an apparently empty sky. When the egg is righted the deer is feeding and content under a heaven filled with stars. This indicates that contentment can only come from righting your life and finding God in heaven.