Easter
is the most important feast of the Russian Orthodox church calendar.
It is celebrated with the exchanging of eggs and three kisses.
The
Fabergé eggs began in 1884 with an Easter egg made for the Czar that
became a gift for his wife, Czarina Maria.
The egg
reminded the empress of her homeland and so from then on it was
agreed that Fabergé would make an Easter egg each year for Maria.
Fabergé
designed Easter eggs for another eleven years until Alexander III
died. Then Nicholas II, Alexander's son, continued the tradition. It
was agreed that the Easter gift would always have an egg shape and
would hold a surprise.
These
projects became top priority of the company and were planned and
worked on far in advance - a year or longer. The surprise was always
kept secret.