Pysanky -- Ukrainian Russian Polish decorated Easter eggs
Ranked #1,282 in Travel & Places, #49,108 overall
What are pysanky eggs?
A pysanka (plural: pysanky) is an egg decorated in the Ukrainian style using a wax-resist method. This is usually done on a chicken or goose egg, but any hard-shelled egg can be used even up to an ostrich egg.
Many other cultures in Eastern Europe such as Russians, Poles, Slovaks, and Croatians decorate similar eggs, although there are some differences in the pysanky patterns used by each ethnic group. The ornate decorations of the famous Russian Faberge eggs are derivative of this custom.
Table of Contents
- Traditional decorated pysanky eggs
- How to make pysanky
- More pysanky tutorials
- Pysanky tools
- Pysanky kits
- Need pysanky egg dyes?
- Colours
- Motifs and shapes
- Pysanky eggs for your collection
- Wooden pysanky eggs
- Looking for pysanky coloring pages?
- Pysanky sleeves
- What a collection of beautiful Easter eggs!
- Need more pictures of pysanky?
- Ukrainian egg decorating
- More Easter egg decorating books
- Pysanky links
Traditional decorated pysanky eggs
Egg decorating customs of
Eastern Europe
How to make pysanky
A stylus called a kystka is used to draw designs on the egg with melted beeswax. Then, each egg is dipped into a succession of dyes to achieve the desired result. Once the egg has been dyed, the egg is heated in a candle and rubbed to remove the hardened beeswax. The egg is finally polished and displayed; they are not intended to be eaten. Some artists blow out the whites and yolks from the eggs before displaying them; others leave the egg intact and let the insides dry out naturally.
More pysanky tutorials
- Wayne Schmidt's Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Egg) Page
- My fumbling attempts to learn the fascinating art of Ukrainian Easter egg decorating.
- Decorate Pysanky Eggs
- This egg-decorating activity is perfect for young artists and makes for a great addition to all seasons and holidays. Here's how to get started.
- How to make Ukrainian Easter Eggs
- A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method.
- Ostrich Egg Pysanky demonstration
- Tutorial.
- How to etch an egg
- Jim demonstrates how to etch an egg. Supplies needed include a brown chicken egg, kistka, wax, brush, pencil, pysanky plug.
- How to varnish an egg
- Guest Artist Lorrie Popow demonstrates how to varnish an egg. Supplies needed include polyurethane, gloves, egg holders, styrofoam or sand, and bowls.
- How to clean a kistka
- Jim demonstrates how to clean a kistka. Several types are covered, including a traditional kistka, delrin kistka, and such.
Pysanky tools
Pysanky kits
Need pysanky egg dyes?
Pysanky patterns and symbolism
Colours
- White: purity
- Yellow: light
- Gold: wisdom
- Orange: strength
- Green: fertility
- Red: passion
- Blue: fidelity
- Purple: patience
- Brown: abundance
- Black: eternity
Motifs and shapes
- Animals: birds, insects, deer, rabbits
- Geometric: triangles, diamonds, spirals, dots, hearts
- Man-made objects: ladders, sieves, baskets, windmills
- Nature: leaves, fruits, trees, flowers
Buy artist made pysanky
Pysanky eggs for your collection
Wooden pysanky eggs
Looking for pysanky coloring pages?
Pysanky sleeves
Pre-printed pysanky designs
Need more pictures of pysanky?
Everyone loves
decorating Easter eggs!
Ukrainian egg decorating
More Easter egg decorating books
Pysanky links
- Flickr: Pisanki - Polish Easter Traditions
- Pictures of pisanki.
- Flickr: Ukrainian Easter Eggs - Pysanky
- Pictures of pysanky.
- Easter eggs
- Lithuanian Easter Eggs and Lithuanian decorating traditions.
Thanks for visiting!
Did you enjoy reading this lens? Would you like to leave some feedback, or just make a suggestion? I'm always glad to hear what more you'd like to see here!
-
-
aksem62
Apr 21, 2012 @ 11:18 am | delete
- My grandmother always decorated eggs for Easter. It's shame that with her death our family lost all her secrets. Her decorated eggs were the object of envy of all neighborhood.
-
-
-
LivRiley
Apr 3, 2012 @ 12:03 pm | delete
- My next door neighbour taught me this craft when I was a young girl. My sister and I still decorate eggs come spring.
-
-
-
RenaissanceWoman2010
Mar 28, 2012 @ 8:43 pm | delete
- These Pysanka eggs are exquisite! Wow. I can only imagine how much time goes into creating these masterpieces. Must be a labor of love. Too beautiful.
-
-
-
Hope
Mar 19, 2012 @ 11:16 pm | delete
- I've always admired these eggs - and the skill & patience required to produce them!
-
-
-
GonnaFly
Nov 28, 2011 @ 3:28 pm | delete
- How creative. These look fascinating.
-
- Load More
by tealmermaid
I'm a 30-ish stay at home mom who likes costuming, weird kitsch stuff, world cultures, and gluten-free cooking. Check out my lensography to see my... more »
- 115 featured lenses
- Winner of 25 trophies!
- Top lens » Mermaid tails, costume, and cosplay ideas
Explore related pages
- Free printable pysanky Easter egg coloring pages Free printable pysanky Easter egg coloring pages
- Pysanky Easter egg dye recipes and how-to Pysanky Easter egg dye recipes and how-to
- Beautiful pictures of pysanky Easter eggs Beautiful pictures of pysanky Easter eggs
- Beautiful panoramic sugar eggs Easter egg craft Beautiful panoramic sugar eggs Easter egg craft
- The art of Russian Imperial goldsmith Peter Carl Faberge The art of Russian Imperial goldsmith Peter Carl Faberge
- Matryoshka -- Russian nesting dolls Matryoshka -- Russian nesting dolls
