Pysankarstvo – interesting facts: types of Easter eggs and ornaments

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The exact history of Easter eggs is unknown. The tradition of coloring eggs arose a long time ago, even in the pre-Christian period. Simple Easter eggs are painted in different countries, but it is in Ukraine that Easter eggs have turned into a real art. The oldest Easter egg that was found on Ukrainian territory dates back to the 9th century AD, and it survived because at that time Easter eggs were made of ceramics.

Researchers distinguish 5 types of colored eggs:

  • Krashanka – boiled egg that was painted in one color;
  • Krapanka – when colorful dots are applied to the painted background;
  • Skryabanka or Scrobanka – when patterns are scratched with a needle on a painted background;
  • Maliovanka – egg that was painted with a brush;
  • Pysanka – egg that was painted with a wax.

Pysanka is primarily a symbol. And this symbol has a double meaning:

  1. The egg itself symbolizes life;
  2. The drawings on the Easter egg are a complex set of symbols, thanks to which the Easter egg turns into a magical amulet. That is why Easter eggs were not cooked, eaten or played with in «battles».

There are more than 100 symbolic pictures for Pysanka. The most common of them can be divided into several groups:

Sun symbols are the oldest and most common symbols, which are most often depicted as a circle with straight and wavy rays or dots. This symbol protects against diseases, misfortune and «the evil eye».

Symbols of water are infinity, meanders, waves. These are symbols of endless life. It was believed that they must be applied to the Easter egg to avoid misfortune.

Plant symbols are a very numerous and diverse group of symbols. This includes the Tree of Life – a symbol of the connection between heaven and earth, inexhaustible forces and continuous rebirth. Oak leaves personified longevity, male strength, as well as fidelity. Flowers are symbols of children. Cherry and guelder rose are symbols of love, happiness, girlish beauty.

Animal symbols have a double meaning. Firstly, they were applied so that the owner of the pysanka would have such «animal» qualities as strength, health, endurance, and secondly, they were supposed to protect livestock and give good offspring. The oldest symbols of animals are birds, which are heralds of spring, the awakening of nature.

The net is a sieve that protects against evil forces, separates good from evil.

Beregynya is a symbol of protection of all living things. Often simplified to the letter «Ж».

The colors of Pysanka also had a symbolic meaning. The oldest are red Easter eggs, because red is the color of Resurrection, sacrifice and at the same time well-being. Green Easter eggs meant the awakening of nature, hope for a good harvest, black Easter eggs symbolized the afterlife, as well as everything unknown. Yellow – is a symbol of warmth and joy, blue – water, sky and health. The white color symbolized the whirlpool where the souls of the dead are.

Pysanka, made with your own hands, is the most powerful talisman. The «Lihtaryk» art studio invites adults and children for decorating Easter eggs master class in Kyiv, where you can join this ancient Ukrainian magic and make own unique Pysanka for Easter.

Also you can order a gift certificate for a master class at the «Lihtaryk» art studio and find another atmospheric place where to go in Kyiv.

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