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Guide to Ukrainian Egg Dying traditions for Easter

The tradition of dying eggs for Easter is present in many countries, but perhaphs none is so developed as the variations found in Ukraine.

The most common tradition is known as "Krashanky" and consists of the basic dying of eggs. Traditionally, dyes were made from boiling vegetables, such as onion skins or beets. The egg was then placed in the dye and eaten for Easter. Sometimes, designs were etched into the egg to reveal a white pattern or plants and flowers were stuck to the sides of the eggs before placing them in the dye and later removed to reveal a plant "shadow" on the egg.

Pysanky is a more time intensive and ornate method of dying Easter eggs. Pysanky, or the art of writing on eggs, layers applications wax and dye to create intricate patterns. The traditional patterns and colors used for pysanky vary from region to region and today it is mainly the western regions around L'viv and Ivano-Frankivsk that keep the tradition alive and flourishing. You don't have to go to Ukraine to learn more about the art or buy supplies The Ukrainian Gift Shop http://www.ukrainiangiftshop.c om/ offers supplies and All things Ukrainian http://www.allthingsukrainian. com/ even offers a basic online course for free. The most comprehensive site for history, instructions, and pattern ideas is Luba Petrusha's Pysanky Site http://web.mac.com/lubap/PYSAN KY/

To get started you will need:
A clean, uncooked, white egg without blemish
White Vinegar
At least 3 pysanky dye colors (Yellow, Red, and Black - Food coloring will not work well)
A stylus (kitska)
Beeswax
Melted paraffin wax
A candle
A large needle
A small file
Paper towels

Basic instructions for Pysanky
1) Wash your hands. The oils from your hands will get on the egg and could prevent the dyes from taking.
2) Using a pencil, lightly draw the pattern you want to make on the egg.
3) Heat the kitska in candle and fill it with beeswax.
4) Make a little doodle on some scrap paper to test the consistency of the melted wax and get the feeling of the kitska.
5) Now you're ready to draw on the egg. Follow your pattern and using the kitska, draw everything on the egg that should be white.
6) Dip the egg quickly in vinegar.
7) Place the egg in the first, and lightest dye (usually yellow.)
8) When the desired color has been achieved, remove the egg form the dye and gently pat it dry with a paper towel.
9) Repeat the process of heating and filling your kitska with wax and draw everything on your egg that should be yellow.
10) After covering everything with wax that should be yellow, place the egg in the next lightest color.
11) Repeat steps 8 10 until you have used all the colors needed for your design.
12) Dip the top and bottom of your egg in melted paraffin wax.
13) Being carful not to crush your egg, use a large, sharp needle and pierce the top and the bottom of the egg
14) Use the file to bore out a hole in the top and the bottom of each egg
15) Blow the yolk from the egg, carful not to let the yolk touch the unprotected parts of the shell.
16) using a heat source, (oven, burner, candle) carefully melt the wax from the shell of the egg and wipe it off using a clean, dry paper towel.

Your pysanky is now complete and can be displayed proudly in your home or given as a gift.

Learn more about this author, M. Es Torrens.
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