Of all the Eastern European Easter eggs, the Ukrainian eggs are perhaps the best known. They are so well known that many people do not realize that the type of eggs in Ukraine are actually manufactured in most of eastern and eastern Central Europe, calling Czech, Polish or Romanian eggs “Ukrainian eggs.” They do not have a monopoly on egg decoration, although the popularity of eggs from this region means that they are highly collectible, and this art continues to be practiced using modern and traditional methods.
Ukrainian Easter eggs are called pysanky , which derives from the verb “to write.” The practice of decorating eggs dates back to pagan times. Although ancient examples of pysanky have not survived due to the delicate nature of eggshells, ceramic “eggs” decorated with patterns and images have been found at burial sites and during archaeological excavations. Pagan symbolism, such as the “tree of life” or goddess symbolism, adorns the eggs even today, referring to the pre-Christian era and providing information on pagan religious worship and the priorities of their daily lives.
Pagan origin
When the people of what is now Ukraine adopted Christianity, pagan symbols were reused and new symbols relevant to this new religion were introduced. In some cases, patterns and marks have lost their original meaning and experts can only guess what messages previous generations were trying to convey through these images. Images of nature, such as plants, herbs and animals, and insects are often incorporated into a pysanky design. Christian symbolism such as the cross or the lamb also appear.
The egg itself is also a symbol: with its endless surface, it represents eternal life.
In earlier times, Ukrainian Easter eggs were much more than decorative objects or crafts for the holidays. They were imbued with special powers that prevented evil, promoted marriage and fertility, ensured good harvests and the production of milk or honey, and protected the home from disaster. The eggs were given as gifts after they were created as a way to share the good fortune they are said to have brought.
Traditionally, it was the women who decorated the eggs, and sometimes the men were expelled from the room in which the eggs were decorated. Various plants were collected to create homemade dyes. The onion skins produced a brown or gold tint, the beets gave a red color, and the bark or herbs created yellow and green.
Wax Eggs
The most famous type of Easter egg in Ukraine are those made with the wax resistance method. This method requires the use of beeswax and a special stylus, sometimes called a kistka , to draw wax on an egg. When the egg is dipped in a dye bath, the wax-covered areas do not absorb the color. At the end of several stages of drawing and dying, the wax melts to reveal the design underneath. In some regions of Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe, the method of wax extraction and extraction is used on the egg, in which a pin or nail is inserted directly into the wax and drops of wax are drawn in the shape of a tear over the egg. .
Lithuanian marguciai are known to exhibit the drop-pull method. (This waxing method is similar to using a white wax crayon in the United States to draw patterns on Easter eggs before they die.)
Although many Ukrainian egg artists maintain ties to tradition and imitate their ancestors, the Ukrainian pysanky has achieved art status. Modern technologies such as manufactured dye and electronic kistkas have simplified the process and allowed artists to create more colorful and accurate designs that dazzle. Both male and female egg artists sell their work at markets, fairs, and souvenir shops. An entire industry has developed around the production and sale of pysanky equipment, dyes, patterns, accessories and packaging materials.
And for those who want to test their knack for pysanky, perhaps after a trip to Ukraine or buying an egg from a traditional artist, there are online workshops and tutorials available.
