Pysanky: The art of Ukrainian Easter eggs

Pysanky is one of the oldest and most cherished traditions associated with Easter in Ukraine. Originating as a pagan ritual, the people in the region once believed that great powers were embodied in the egg. While these beliefs may have changed over the years, pysanky still holds great meaning and is a widely popular custom for many Ukrainian families.

Introduction

Pysanky (pysanky-plural, pysanka-singular) are Ukrainian Easter eggs, decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method. The word comes from the verb pysaty, “to write”, as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax.

The art form of producing elaborately decorated eggs is also common through Central and Eastern Europe.

Pysanky are traditionally made during the last week of Lent, which is Holy Week in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars.

As well as real eggs, there are also painted wooden eggs that are often displayed in many Ukrainian homes.

History

The art of the decorated egg or the “pysanka” dates back to pagan times. No actual examples exist, as eggshells are fragile. However, folk tales reveal that people who lived in the region now known as Ukraine worshiped the sun. It warmed the earth and therefore was a source of all life. Eggs decorated with symbols of nature were chosen for sun worship ceremonies and became integral to spring rituals as benevolent talismans.

With the acceptance of Christianity in 988 AD, the decorated pysanka continued to play an important role in Ukrainian rituals. Many symbols of the old sun worship survived and were adapted to represent Easter and Christ’s Resurrection.

Eggs decorated with nature symbols became an integral part of spring rituals, serving as benevolent talismans.

In modern times, the art of the pysanka was carried abroad by Ukrainian emigrants to North and South America, where the custom took hold. However, during the communist regime in Ukraine, it was banished as a religious practice, where it was nearly forgotten. Many museum collections were also destroyed both by war and by Soviet cadres. However, in recent years, there has been renewed interest in the art form.

Method

The most popular method for creating pysanky is by wax resist or batik. A specialized instrument called the “kistka” is used to write the design with hot wax.

The egg is then placed into a colored dye bath, which covers all areas of the white egg-shell that have not been protected with wax. The progression of colors proceeds from the lightest to the darkest hues, so that each subsequent color covers the preceding.

After each dye bath the areas that are to remain that color are covered in wax, and then dipped into the next darker dye, with the process repeated. The final color is always the darkest, and is one that provides a background that effectively contrasts with all of the other previously utilized colors.

When the final color has been applied, the egg is carefully heated by a candle to melt the various layers of wax so that it may be easily removed. The colorful patterns and designs of the pysanky are then revealed.

The egg is then coated with layers of varnish to give it a glossy-like finish.

In the past, dyes were made from natural ingredients such as dried plants, roots, and berries. Today, chemical dyes are mostly used.

Symbols

Pysanky have many symbolic meanings according to their color and design. These elements vary from region to region, and even from village to village. Similar symbols can have totally different interpretations in different places. There are several thousand different motifs in Ukrainian folk designs.

The most common types of Pysanky can be categorized into geometric patterns (triangles, curls, diamonds), Christian symbols (fish, crosses), flora (fruit, flowers, trees, wheat), fauna (birds, insects, animals), man-made objects (tools, nets, ladders), and celestial signs (sun, stars).

One interesting adaptation of the geometric pattern is the ornament called “forty triangles” (actually 48) or “Sorokoklyn,” became a symbol of the forty days of lent, the forty martyrs, the forty days that Christ spent in the desert, and the forty life tasks of married couples.

Tools Required

Pysanky requires several special tools and equipment. For beginners, it’s best to select a starter kit which can be purchased at a craft store or online.

• kitska (a metal funnel attached to a plastic or wooden stylus)
• beeswax (either in stick form or block form)
• dyes in various colors
• vinegar and water solution (for cleansing)
• pencil
• short candles & candleholders
• clean, raw eggs at room temperature
• paper napkins or rags
• newspapers
• elastic bands (assist with drawing lines straighter on your eggs by using the edge of the band)
• spoons

Optional tools include:

• egg blower
• varnish
• drying rack
• electric kitska
• bleach
• templates for designs
• egg stands

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Tags: pysanky, Ukrainian Easter eggs

Category: Arts, History