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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
I have always felt the true magic when I held an Easter egg in my hands. A small egg – and on it, a whole world: stars, crosses, flowers, birds, spirals reaching up to the sky. Since childhood, I was drawn to this tradition, and only over time did I realize how deep the roots of our eggs and Easter eggs are – and why they cannot be confused, even though at first glance they are just "painted eggs".
Easter Egg – simple, yet symbolic
An Easter egg is an egg dyed in one color. Without patterns, but not without meaning. The color matters. The most common is red, as a symbol of life, the sun, blood, and sacrifice. According to legend, it was such eggs that Mary Magdalene brought to Emperor Tiberius, announcing the resurrection of Jesus.
Besides red, there are others: yellow (symbol of harvest), green (spring, renewal), blue (sky, health), black (earth, eternity). Easter eggs are usually boiled in infusions of onion skins, beets, nettles, oak bark – all natural, accessible, and filled with meaning.
Pysanka – a conversation with God, encoded in patterns
But a pysanka is a whole art form. It is not boiled, but painted on a raw egg using wax and dyes. This is a delicate work, where each element has its meaning. A pysanka is like a prayer, like a talisman, like a coded message to higher powers.
Each symbol is not just a drawing. For example:
- pine cone – a symbol of immortality and longevity;
- star or rose – a sign of the sun and light;
- spiral or "infinity" – eternal life;
- birds – souls flying to God;
- cross – a Christian symbol, and sometimes also an ancient sign of the sun.
These ornaments were passed down from generation to generation, and each region had its peculiarities. For example, Hutsul pysankas are often dark with bright colors, while Poltava ones are gentle and refined. Each pysanka is a small encyclopedia of beliefs, dreams, and hopes.
Writing pysankas – not just creativity, but a ritual
In ancient times, pysankarstvo was almost a sacred act. Only women with "clean hands" and good thoughts were allowed. They wrote in silence, at dawn, with prayer. Even the wax was taken only from church candles, and the dyes were natural. When I tried to write a pysanka for the first time, I felt that same thrill – as if touching something eternal that has survived centuries.
Not just decoration, but a talisman
Pysankas and Easter eggs were not just placed in a basket. They were given as gifts, used to decorate homes, placed in beehives for good swarming, and kept in the house for luck. Additionally, a pysanka was often placed under the first sowing for a bountiful harvest, or at the threshold – as a talisman against evil spirits.
Interestingly, they were even used for healing. It was believed that they had the power of purification. They were used to "suck out" illnesses, performing rituals against the evil eye.
Today's meaning: a tradition that comes alive
Today, pysankas are more often perceived as decorative art. But at the same time, more and more people are returning to the true meaning of this ritual – not just "to make something beautiful for Easter," but to invest the soul into it.
I am very pleased that in many schools, museums, and even at festivals, children are learning the art of pysankarstvo. Because it is not just about art – it is about our identity, our history, the memory of our lineage.
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