Pysanky

The term pysanky refers to a traditional form of decorated Easter egg from Eastern Europe. Although it is usually associated with the Ukraine it is not unique to that region and is also found in countries such as Poland and Romania. The practice dates back way before the Christian era.

Decorating Eggs
Exquisite Designs with Wax & Dye

Although the word is now used to refer to any form of decorative egg, "pysanky" strictly refers to a very specific form of craft. The word comes from pysaty which means "to write". A true pysanky egg is not so much painted as "written".

Technique

The pysanky technique traditionally uses beeswax and coloured dyes in a method known as batik when applied to cloth. The various coloured dyes were applied in order, lightest first moving toward darkest.

First the part of the eggshell to remain white was covered in wax, using a tool known as a kistka (people would either buy these or make their own). The egg was then dipped into the lightest dye, for example yellow. The covering of wax would protect the eggshell where it was to remain white, the rest of the shell would be dyed yellow.

Once the first layer was dry, more wax would be added to the part of the egg to remain yellow. The egg would be dipped into the next darkest colour which would dye those areas still not covered with wax. This layering approach was repeated until the final colour, usually black, was applied.

The egg would now by now be covered by numerous layers of wax and dye. These were finally removed by melting the wax carefully with a candle flame and delicately wiping it off along with the excess dye. The finished multicoloured egg was then revealed in its true glory.

Symbolism

Although many pysanky today are purely decorative, originally the choice of colours had symbolic value. Exact symbolism varied between regions, however common attributions included: yellow for youth; green for fertility and rebirth, appropriate to spring; red for joy; white for purity.

Pysanky is an ancient craft that is still very much alive today with many people making or buying some form of pysanky - traditional or otherwise!