The design and symbols, used for decorating Easter eggs or Pysanky, were passed down from mothers to daughters through generations for centuries. In pre-Christian times, pysanky were made by the women of the house. Only women were allowed to decorate eggs. The whole process was done in secrecy.
Pysanka - Ukrainian Easter Egg
In Ukraine, Easter is one of the most highly-anticipated holidays. It has always had special meaning for Ukrainians, especially, the art of decorating the Easter eggs.
The ancient Ukrainians believed that egg symbolized the Sun and the Moon - in the golden yolk and nourishing white. The egg was a symbol of a new life and new beginnings. The symbolism of the egg represented the rebirth of man. In Christian times, pysanky symbolized the beginning of spring, new hope and life.
Today, pysanky are made by Ukrainians at Easter time around the world. In many parts of the world, you can meet people, who have or collect Ukrainian pysanky.
- The word 'pYsanka' (singular; stress the first syllable; plural: pYsanky) means the Easter Egg in Ukrainian language. The word comes from Ukrainian verb 'pysAty', which means 'to write'.
Symbolic Meanings & Mystical Ritual
All patterns on Ukrainian Easter eggs were very symbolic. Pysanky carried a message of fortune or good will to the recipient. Easter eggs were objects with magical protective powers. With the acceptance of Christianity by Ukrainians in 988, the symbolism of the egg and the interpretation of many of symbols changed.
Today, Ukrainian Easter eggs contain more individualized art. Easter eggs have more personalized symbolism and motifs. But, still - Ukrainian pysanky continue to carry message of good will and link to the ancient culture. Tradition has remained: pysanky designs are chosen to match the character of person, to whom the pysanka is to be given. To give a pysanka means to give a symbolic gift of life.
The most popular pysanka designs are geometric symbols. However, there are several thousands different motifs in Ukrainian folk designs. Geometric symbols are:
- triangle - which means the Holy Trinity and the elements of air, fire and water
- tripods - which mean man, woman and child or birth, life, and death
- spirals - which mean the mystery of life and death, as well as divinity and immortality
Also well-known pysanka designs are solar symbols, never ending symbols, plant and animal symbols and Christian symbols.
Colors and their combination also have special meaning:
- red stands for the love and passion of Christ, the Sun, love, joy in life
- yellow represents light, youth and happiness
- white is purity
- brown symbolizes the earth
- green signifies renewal, health and hopefulness
Making Pysanky
In general, Pysanka/Pysanky mean any type of decorated egg. But, specifically it refers to eggs, which are created by the written-wax batik method.
Pysanky are not meant to be eaten. They are made with only raw eggs (not boiled) or empty eggshells, from which the yolks and whites have been blown out. Traditionally, large chicken eggs are used for pysanky. However, duck and goose eggs are also common. Another alternative - eggs made from wood.
Pysanky are made during the last week of Lent, Holy Week in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars. Nowadays, in Ukraine almost every family has its own special ritual and secret formulas for dyeing eggs. Decoration of one pysanka - one Easter egg, takes anywhere from an hour up to several days. Everything depends on how the design is tangled.
In pre-Christian times, beeswax and natural dyes were used for creating Easter eggs. Pysanky dyeswere made from natural materials, such as dried plants, roots, bark or berries, beet juice. For example, red dye was extracted from cochineal or deer horn, green - was made from sunflower seeds and wild elderberries. In modern times, decorators still use natural dyes along with the special ones.
Using an instrument, called a kistka, a stylus, pysanka decorators draw on the desired design with wax. Egg decorating is a process similar to batik. The designs, patterns are written or drawn on the egg with melted beeswax - it protects the covered areas from the dye that is applied. Beeswax also has a high melting point, which makes it easier to get even lines that will not smear.
All this hard work produces a little masterpiece - pysanka, which reflects the essence of the nation, its unique culture, heritage, traditions and ageless wisdom.
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