Birds, Eggs, Pysanky and Easter – Spring Has Arrived!

Happy Easter 

Ostrich Egg pysanky by Brigitte Jordan

A pysanky is a Ukrainian decorated egg.  These beautiful works of art are made by the wax batik method and are made as decoration, not to eat.  A small hole is usually made at both ends of the egg and the contents are blown out before the design is written on to the egg with an instrument called a kystka.  The kystka is a pen that writes with melted beeswax.  Beeswax is used because it has a high melting point which makes it easier to get even lines that will not smear.

This ancient method of decorating eggs was in practice well before the time of Christ.  Peasants believed that great power is embodied in the egg and they decorated eggs in the spring to celebrate the warming of the sun as it brought new joy and vigor to life. 

You can see the fine detail of the flowers beneath the deer on this pysanky and the bird singing atop the newly blooming apple tree in this depiction of Spring.  The photos that follow show the other three sides of this beautiful egg made by my wife Brigitte depicting the four seasons.

In this Summer depiction you can see the fruit is ripe and falling off the tree.

In the Fall three singing birds are shown in the tree branches as the leaves fall to the ground.

In the story of Winter, the snow is falling and we have a cardinal atop a leafless fruit tree.

With the introduction of Christianity to the Ukraine in 988 AD, the ancient customs were absorbed into the Christian celebration known as Easter.  This explains the mixture of pagan and Christian symbolism seen on pysanky today.

The different designs on pysanky have special symbolic meanings.  For example, flowers symbolize love, charity and good will.  Wheat symbolizes good health and wishes for a bountiful harvest.  Notice the different symbols in these beautiful pysanky made by Brigitte Jordan.

Storks, chicks, hens and roosters all symbolize fertility and fulfillment of wishes.  Birds are not depicted flying but always at rest.  Deer and horses symbolize a wish for good health, wealth and prosperity.  Here is a close up of a couple of these creations.  Note the detail on the traditional design of the Ukrainian woman praying.

The batik method I noted earlier is done by writing on the egg in beeswax then dipping the egg in yellow dye first.  The egg is left in the dye for approximately 10 minutes.  Wherever wax is applied to the yellow egg, those areas remain yellow in the final design.  The egg is then dipped into consecutively darker colors, ending in black.  Wax is applied between each color to designate the color that will show at the end as you cover that color with wax.

After the last of the wax is applied and the egg is dipped into the black dye, it is patted dry and the most exciting time is at hand.  The unveiling of the finished pysanky!  The wax is melted off by holding the egg over a candle and the wax wiped away with a clean soft cloth to reveal your masterpiece!  The eggs are then covered with a clear gloss varnish and allowed to dry.

If you want to try making some of these beautiful eggs, there are lots of resources out there to help you.  If you have questions, feel free to post them and I will send you all the information I have.  Brigitte will tell you this takes patience and persistance and a steady hand!

I hope you enjoyed this post.  Happy Easter to you and your family.

Happy Birding!