Decorating and hunting for Easter eggs is a favorite family activity. The tradition of decorating eggs began more than 5,000 years ago. Persians first began using colored eggs to celebrate spring in 3,000 B.C.

According to PAAS, the dye company, the average egg decorator plans to decorate or dye a whopping 17 eggs this year.

Here are more egg facts, tips and techniques for your Easter celebration:

n This year's favorite color - teal

n Perfect hard-cooked eggs - Arrange in a single layer at the bottom of a sauce pan. Add water to at least 1 inch above eggs, bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 15 minutes (for large eggs). Run under cold water until cooled.

n Marbleized eggs - Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to each color you want to marbleize. Dip eggs in dye.

n Rubber-band eggs - Dye egg in light color. Wrap in rubber bands. Dye egg in darker color. Let dry and remove rubber bands.

n Tissue-paper eggs - Spray egg with water. Layer egg with small squares of colored tissue paper. Spray again. Let dry. When the egg dries, the tissue paper will fall off, but the colors will remain, giving a stained-glass effect.

n Eggs with a face - Dip egg in a dye that's made of a little bit of red and yellow coloring. When dry, draw on a face and glue on yarn for hair.

n Easter bonnets - Wrap a piece of sheet foam (5 inches wide) around child's head to make hat. Overlap and staple closed, trimming excess. Cut another piece of foam 2 inches by 18 inches. Staple to the top of the hat for the Easter basket handle. Staple or glue Easter grass, pipe cleaners, beads, buttons or fabric to the hat.