PYSANKY - EASTER EGGS
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Easter egg, pysanka, decorating is one of the most interesting
expressions of Ukrainian folk art. This tradition is very old and
its beginnings reach back to antiquity, when in attempting to
understand creation, ancient people developed myths in which the
egg was perceived as the source of life, the sun and the universe.
Although such similar myths are found in many cultures of the word,
Ukrainians today are one of the few groups of people who still
strongly adhere to many of the ancient traditions associated with
the egg.
The Ukrainian pysanka (from the word pysaty, to write) was believed
to possess an enormous power not only in the egg itself, which
harbored the nucleus of life, but also in the symbolic designs and
colors which were drawn upon the egg in a specific manner,
according to prescribed rituals. The intricately colored eggs were
used for various social and religious occasions and were considered
to be a talisman, a protector against evil, as well as harbingers
of good.
The symbolic ornamentation of the pysanky consists of geometric
motifs, with some animal and plant elements. The most important
motif is the stylized symbol of the sun, which is seen as a broken
cross, triangle, an eight point rosette or a star. Other popular
motifs are endless lines, stylized flowers, leaves, the tree of
life and also some animal figures such as stags, horses or birds.
The Christian influence brought elements such as the cross, the
church and fish.
The most popular method of decorating pysanky is the use of the wax
resist method or batik. A specialized instrument called the kistka
or ryl'tse is used to write the design with hot wax. The dyes used
in the process also had a symbolic meaning. Red symbolized the
sun, life, joy; yellow stood for wealth and fertility; green was
the symbol of spring and plant life. In the not too distant past
artisans prepared their own dyes using natural products such as the
bark of oak or ash trees, twigs of sour apple trees, saffron or
willow tree leaves. Today, chemical dyes are used.
TO THE PYSANKY SLIDE SHOW (17 images) 
