Blog #8 Pysanka ( Ukrainian Easter eggs)

 

Blog #7 Ukrainian Easter Eggs

Welcome back! Today I will be covering pysanka, or Ukrainian Easter eggs. The practice is traced back to pagan times, when ancient Ukrainian people worshipped the Sun as the source of life on Earth. Because they believed birds were chosen by the sun God, eggs became central to their rituals. 

Shown above are traditional pysanky eggs.

(The History Behind the Ukrainian Tradition of Decorating Pysanky Easter Eggs, TIME)

However, once Christianity started to spread, the eggs new meaning became the resurrection of Christ. Orthodox Christians began to use these pysanky eggs when celebrating Easter to protect them from misfortune. 

The importance of pysanky is continue after Easter as well. Ukrainians put egg shells in cattle feed or gardens to enhance growth. Eggs are also put in the four corners of houses to bring good luck. 

Psyankas are also made to celebrate the first day of spring, also call Velykden.

The process of making psyanky eggs is very intricate. To start you must use a pencil to make a grid on the egg and draw a design within the grid. Then apply melted wax to the eggshell in a design, then dip it into different colored dyes. You must start with the lightest colors and move on to the darkest. After the final layer of dye, the wax melts off and the intricate design underneath is unveiled. To seal in the design, use a spray.

                                                        An artist etching a design into the egg.         

                                                 ( Pysanky: Ukrainian Eggs, Where the blacktop ends)

There are various symbols embedded in the pysanky designs, and otheyhold different meanings. Deers symbolize strength, chicks are for fertility and triangles represent the holy trinity. 

                                Shown above is examples of what different symbols mean on psyankas.

                                                  ( Amazing Ukrainian Eggs, Naztazia)

Colors also have very specific meanings, white symbolizes purity, light,and birth yellow is the sun, moon and warmth while red is happiness, hope and passion. 

Raw eggs are traditionally used for pysankas. There is no need to empty the contents of the egg because the liquid will dry out. Because of this, psyanky eggs can remain intact for years but they must be kept away from extreme cold or heat to prevent cracking. 

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