Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Colouring Easter Eggs

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

1. Colouring Easter Eggs Marker

Inscription.

Although many Pa. Dutch colour their Easter eggs with commercial dyes, some still use the traditional methods. To get the different colours, various vegetables and roots are boiled with the eggs.
Adler [sic - Alder] catkins and hickory bark...yellow
Madder root..............light red
Coffee and walnut hulls............light brown
Another method which was used to colour eggs was unique. Calico or chintz was tightly tied around each egg. The eggs were then boiled in their "jackets." The colourful patterns were transferred to the eggshells.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 40° 31.069′ N, 75° 47.033′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It can be reached from Wentz Street. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania

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Dutch Country.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Two Worlds - Dutch Country (here, next to this marker); Brick-End Decorated Barns (here, next to this marker); Griener Dunnerschdag (here, next to this marker); Pennsylvania Dutch Ballads (here, next to this marker); Cider Making (here, next to this marker); Wheelbarrow Matches (within shouting distance of this marker); Quilting Lore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Conestoga Wagon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.

Regarding Colouring Easter Eggs. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call

Also see . . .
1. Natural Easter Egg Dyes. (Submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. The Pennsylvania German Society.

Colouring Easter Eggs Marker and Other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

2. Colouring Easter Eggs Marker and Other Markers

(Submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 297 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.