Egg Decorating Is Serious Business In Ukraine

Egg Decorating Is Serious Business In Ukraine
People have been decorating eggs in the springtime for thousands of years. Eggs are associated with life and rebirth. Long ago, Christians painted eggs red to symbolize Christ’s blood. In Ukraine, egg decorating is serious business. An entire museum is dedicated to intricately decorated eggs called pysanky. The word pysanky comes from the Ukrainian word “to write”. The egg designs are written in hot wax before dye is applied. Several layers of wax and dye are used to create the design. Ukraine’s Museum of Eggs was built in the year 2000. The museum itself was constructed in the shape of an Easter egg. Over 10,000 hand-crafted eggs are on display. Ukrainian eggs typically feature plant and animal motifs.

1. Eggs symbolize life and rebirth.
2. A Ukrainian egg is called a pysanka because the designs are “written” on with hot wax before the egg is dyed.
3. Plant and animal motifs are typically found on Ukrainian Easter eggs.