Pysanky Ukrainian Eggs

History Pysanky comes from a Ukrainian word meaning “to write”. Pysanky are eggs (whole, raw, or hollow) which have been decorated with a wax-resist method where one will “write” or draw those portions of the design which you want to remain the color underneath the wax. So, the egg is dipped in wax and the wax is allowed to dry. This is done several times in several different colors of wax so when you draw designs on the eggs, you will draw through the layers of wax until you reach the color you want. BE CAREFUL or you’ll break your egg.

History Archeologists discovered ceramic Pysanky in the Ukraine dating back to 1300 B.C. They have linked Pysanky designs to those of ceramics created in 1500 B.C., and to the symbolism of the culture in the Ukraine of 3000 B.C. The culture in the Ukraine of 3000 B.C. illustrated people’s close attachment to the soil and other elements of nature. What does this tell us so far about Easter eggs?

History Ukrainian symbolic art is based on the early ideograms of soil and nature. The best known example is the Ukrainian meander or unending line, which denotes the cyclical nature of life. Other examples include such motifs as the circle, cross, stars, dots, matriarchal (mother) symbols, wheat, fir tree, horse, stag, horns and bear paws. What does this tell us about Pysanky eggs?

History With the acceptance of Christianity in Ukraine in 988 A.D., Pysanky became part of the Christian tradition of Easter and took on the meaning of man and the resurrection of Christ. The egg symbol was likened to the tomb from which Christ arose. There is no point where the pagan (non-religious) beliefs and customs of Pysanky end and where the Christian symbolism begins. A subtle blending of both has occurred.

Examples

Pysanky Symbols A symbol on a Pysanky egg is a word picture, ideogram, or a code containing the secrets of a culture. Pysanky symbols reveals feelings: love, happiness, hope, dread, despair, etc. Each Pysanky involves a trinity of symbolisms: the symbolism of the egg itself (life), the symbolism of the design, and the symbolism of color.

Task Create your own Pysanky designed egg using symbols that have meaning and are important to you. Websites with Pysanky symbols: http://eggs-files.tripod.com/pysanky_4.html http://graphicoriginals.com/history.html Info. for power point from: http://www.incredibleart.org/lessons/high/Sue-Pysanky.htm