First published 3/28/2014
Easter is just around the corner! This is the time of year when you will find most Ukrainians hunched over their fresh eggs, wax, candles, kistkas, and dyes making their intricate Easter eggs. Ukrainians call these eggs Pysanky.
Creating these little works of art requires a lot of time and PATIENCE. Not only are there multiple steps to be taken for each egg, but you can’t erase a mistake and go backwards — and there are millions of ways to crack your egg in the process! Because of this, I’m one of the few Ukrainians who rarely participates in this annual undertaking. It doesn’t matter how slow or how careful I am, my eggs always break! Even the ones that make it all the way to the varnishing stage get smashed or dropped by me or someone else.
It’s too bad that I can’t sit down long enough to make Pysanky because it’s fun to go back and see everyone’s eggs over the years. Each has their own style! For example, my sister Lesya’s eggs are really cool and unique, while my aunt’s eggs are very intricate and traditional. Just recently my mom pulled out some of my Babcha’s eggs that were 20–30 years old!
Here is a short video one of my sisters created a LONG time ago! Rather than me explaining every step, watch the video 🙂
