Russia, 1885. Tsar Alexander III is looking for an Easter/anniversary gift for his wife, Maria Feodorovna. He gets in touch with jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, who proceeds to make a white enameled gold egg that opens to reveal a golden yolk containing a small golden hen with ruby eyes. So began a yearly tradition of intricately detailed eggs, each unique, each with its own surprise, like a really expensive box of Cracker Jacks. Faberge eggs continue to represent the height of opulence, a point made with tragic finality when the Russian monarchy was overthrown in 1917, the final year Fabergé eggs were produced.
Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About Easter
From dressing up as witches to burning effigies of politicians, the world holds many more Easter traditions than just dyeing eggs.