Pysanka from Ukraine

One of Ukraine’s most famous Easter traditions is their intricately decorated Easter eggs known as ‘pysanka’. The word pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, ‘to write’. Creating pysanka is extremely complicated. The smoothest and best-shaped eggs are used to make pysanka. A stylus is often used to ensure and perfect the clean lines and intricate patterns on the eggs. Pysanka are usually created during the last week of Lent and given to friends and loved ones to represent the gift of life.

One of the most popular, and oldest, pysanky legend tells of a young woman who was on her way home from the market in town. She had with her a jug of fresh water for her journey and a basket of eggs. On her way she met a stranger sitting on a rock. Thinking he must be a tired traveller, she offered him a drink of her water. When he handed the water back to her, she was surprised to see that he had wounds on his hands. The stranger said nothing, but got up and went in the opposite direction to the young woman. When she arrived home, she uncovered her basket and discovered her eggs had been turned into beautiful pysanky.  The stranger, of course, had been Jesus Christ, and that was the first Easter morning.

Ukrainians have been decorating eggs, creating these miniature jewels, for countless generations.  If you’d like to read more about the designs click here.