AN EASTER EGG that lived in a household was once so confused that it thought it was Easter that was coming when, in fact, it was almost New Year’s Eve. "I can't wait to see the Easter bunny this year", he told the other eggs in the same basket, and they found it rather strange to hear. Yet, there was no one to tell him it was Christmas rather than Easter.

As the custom in Greece goes, the egg patiently waited for the housewife to come and dye the eggs. He waited, and waited, yet as the housewife was nowhere to be seen, in the end he got bored. He, then, gave a big jump out of the basket and took initiative. "Let them wait", he murmured, "I'll dye myself this year".

He searched the cupboards to find the dye, only to get disappointed. "Looks like she forgot the custom this year", the egg complained and shut the cupboard with force. A few minutes later he found water paints and a brush in one of the other cupboards, which he took straight to the bathroom and used them to paint himself red in front of the mirror. Upon completing his  masterpiece, he took a good look at himself: he was ready... for Easter.

As soon as he got back to the living room, however, he got curious to see two big, bright red socks hanging from the fireplace. A loud sound was then heard echoing in the room. "It must be the housewife", the egg thought, "coming back from Church".

Only a few minutes later, and a plump old man with white hair and a beard could be seen climbing down the fireplace. The egg was stunned by his red uniform and was shocked to realize it was Santa Claus, who had come to fill the socks with gifts. Confused as he was, he hastily hid behind the logs that the housewife had left next to the fireplace. Santa Claus burst into laughter at his sight: "They've mistakenly dyed eggs for Christmas in this house!", he exclaimed, giving a big laugh.

Our good egg became red with shame. Santa Claus quietly placed the gifts in the socks, then exited the house the same way he got in: through the fireplace. As he climbed his way up the chimney, however, he accidentally dropped his red cap.

"I've been ridiculed to Santa", the egg thought to himself. "How could I possibly confuse Christmas for Easter?". Then, he became curious as to what gifts he had put in the socks. No sooner had he opened them, however, than a sound was heard coming from the kitchen. It was the other eggs who had become suspicious of his absence, and had come to search for him.

The embarrassed egg then collected Santa Claus' red cap and placed it on his head. "What you don't really know about me is that... I am Santa Claus, and I've come to bring you your presents!", the egg proudly announced.

The eggs then replied: "You are not Santa Claus, as you have no beard and white hair. You just painted yourself red to fool us", and then laughed at him.

So great was his shame this time, that he burst into tears, which washed away the water paint he had applied. As the tears and laughter were so loud, the housewife happened to hear them  in her sleep, and woke up to see what was going on. "My eggs! Somebody took them from the kitchen and left them next to the fireplace!", exclaimed the housewife. As soon as she realized the socks were filled with presents, however, she added with enthusiasm: "It must have been Santa Claus!".

She, then, placed the eggs back to their basket in the kitchen, where, this time, they patiently waited for Easter without making any noise.