Is there a custom to avoid eating eggs on Motzaei Shabbos?
Answer:
Yes. Some are accustomed to avoid eating eggs on Motzaei Shabbos, as it is considered an unfavorable sign (aino siman tov).
Rav Chaim Palagi writes that although eggs may be eaten during the Shabbos meals, one should refrain from eating them on Motzaei Shabbos, even if they remain from the Shabbos meal. He explains that Motzaei Shabbos is a time to seek signs of life, blessing, joy, and happiness, whereas eggs are associated with mourning and therefore are not an appropriate symbol at that time.
Likewise, other authorities record a custom to avoid serving eggs on Motzaei Shabbos because eggs are traditionally a symbol of mourning. Instead, some communities would serve other foods in order to avoid this association.
This is recorded as a custom and matter of symbolism rather than a formal prohibition. Accordingly, many people do eat eggs on Motzaei Shabbos, while others are careful to avoid them in accordance with this custom.
An interesting indication of this practice is found in correspondence presented in Hiskashrus, where a summer camp menu submitted to the Lubavitcher Rebbe listed eggs for the Motzaei Shabbos meal, and the Rebbe annotated: “Question to the Rav.”
At the same time, this custom does not appear to be widespread in Chabad circles. Upon being asked regarding the custom among Anash, Rabbi Eli Landa shlita stated that he had never seen such a practice, had never heard of it, and was not aware of it being observed among Anash. This suggests that while the custom is mentioned in certain Sefarim, it is not a known or established Chabad practice.
Accordingly, while there is a recorded custom to avoid eggs on Motzaei Shabbos, many do not follow it, particularly within Anash.
Sources:
Kaf HaChaim (Rav Chaim Palagi) 31:54 “Nevertheless, on the night of Motzaei Shabbos, even from leftovers of Shabbos, it is not good to eat an egg, because it is not a favorable sign. Even if a child asks for it, one should give him something else in its place and not an egg, because this is a time to seek signs of life, joy, and gladness for the Jewish people.”; Erech HaShulchan 473:6 “And they had the custom of using meat and an egg [at the Seder]. On Motzaei Shabbos, however, they do not bring the item that serves as a remembrance of the Chagigah, since the Chagigah sacrifice does not override Shabbos. There is no concern regarding this omission because it does not appear as if one is eating sacred offerings outside their designated place. However, others are careful not to make an egg—a symbol of mourning—on Motzaei Shabbos, and therefore they use two kinds of meat instead.”; Shu”t Shaarei Tzedek, Orach Chaim 62; Hiskashrus, issue 105, section “Nitzutzei HaRebbe.”