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Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Apr 5
Easter
The Easter Egg
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Egbert the Easter Egg
Was a pretty little Easter Egg.
Cutest thing you ever saw,
In the window of a big department store."
~ Egbert the Easter Egg, Ben Bloom, 1952
Happy Easter! Pastel eggs are a classic Easter egg decorating activity. And Scotch eggs are a delicious egg-shaped sausagey treat, but believe it or not, there are special tartan eggs as well - both beautiful and utilitarian!
And of course, there is this "Egg-celent" dance for a dancing Easter! Read on Easter bunnies ...
This eggy 64 bar reel in a square set, starts with a round basket-like circle and contains enough crossing figures to virtually decorate your easter eggs - with a tartan pattern (right and lefts) and a swirly decorative Schiehallion reel!
From mid-century modern traditions of dye tablets and vinegar baths to the use of natural vegetables, fruits, and herbs—or the intricate egg decorating techniques passed down from Eastern European ancestors—colored and decorated eggs have been central to Easter and springtime celebrations for centuries, rich with symbolic and even mystical meaning.
However, in Victorian Britain, the fascination with decorated eggs took a distinctly Scottish turn with the rise of tartanware—wooden items covered in transfer-printed tartan patterns. Among the most charming were tartanware eggs, often created as sewing “egg” cases that opened to hold thimbles, needles, or small notions. These became especially popular in the mid-19th century, during the height of Queen Victoria’s enthusiasm for all things Scottish after her visits to Balmoral.
The firm of W. & A. Smith of Mauchline is often credited with popularizing tartanware production, developing innovative transfer techniques that allowed detailed clan tartans to be applied to everyday objects—from snuff boxes to needle cases shaped like eggs. These pieces were both practical and sentimental, often purchased as souvenirs of Scotland or as gifts.
Today, antique tartanware eggs and other Mauchline ware are highly collectible, admired for their craftsmanship, historical charm, and connection to Victorian Scotland’s tartan revival.
So whether your Easter involves decorating, rolling, hunting, tapping, or simply admiring a beautifully crafted egg in any form, including dancing this egg-ified and merry dance, wishing you a joyful and colorful Easter! 💗 💙 💚🥚🐣 🐰 🧺
The Easter Egg
Happy Easter!
Beyond the historic and religious symbolism of rebirth, the Easter Egg is now incorporated into holiday food rituals, treats, and games!
Egg hunts are games played with decorated eggs, real or artificial, sometimes filled with or made of chocolate candies for children to find indoors or outdoors.
Egg rolling is also a traditional Easter egg game. In the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries children traditionally rolled eggs down hillsides at Easter. This tradition was taken to the New World by European settler and continues to this day each Easter with an Easter egg roll on the White House lawn.
In the North of England, during Eastertide, a traditional game is played where hard boiled pace eggs are distributed and each player hits the other player's egg with their own. This is known as "egg tapping", "egg dumping", or "egg jarping". The winner is the holder of the last intact egg. The annual egg jarping world championship is held every year over Easter in Peterlee Cricket Club.
An Egg Dance is a traditional Easter game in which eggs are laid on the ground or floor and the goal is to dance among them without damaging any eggs. This game is believed to have originated in Germany. In the UK the dance is called the "hop-egg."
Nowadays, the term "Easter Egg" also refers to a hidden feature in video games or other software. Designers often hide an unexpected or undocumented feature in a piece of computer software or on a DVD, included as a joke or a bonus.
For an Easter Treat of web-based Easter Eggs you may not yet have encountered, click the eggs!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
