AN EASTER TRADITION
Egg-painting has rich history
My father embraced the responsibilities of fatherhood very seriously, ensuring that his daughters would have access to the best education, and instilling in us a love and appreciation for our Ukrainian heritage, language, music and culture.
On Saturdays, we went to Ukrainian school. My sister and I took lessons in Ukrainian dance, and were active participants in concert performances involving singing, music and drama. With my father’s encouragement, I also took a course in Easter egg painting offered through our parish.
I remember being lukewarm to the idea initially, figuring that “fine arts” was not my strong suit. However, after receiving assurance from the instructor that even people with unremarkable skill could produce such masterpieces, I agreed to give it a try.
I discovered that, with enough practice, I was able to create decorative eggs comparable to that of my best friend, a gifted artist. Her sketches of celebrities would always leave me speechless, and now I had the knowledge to create works of art that also left me speechless. Many were sold, others given as gifts.
Legend has it that a pedlar tried to help Jesus with the heavy burden of carrying the cross. He lay his basket by the roadside, but was turned back by soldiers. Returning to his basket, he was amazed to discover that miraculously, all the eggs were awash in vivid colours and designs. These traditional symbols have special significance, and are not random depictions.
Legend aside, the magic happens with the aid of a special drawing implement, colourful dyes and beeswax, transforming a chicken’s egg into a vibrant “gem.”
The egg is dipped in successive colours, and areas are covered in beeswax to retain those colours. The wax is melted off by rubbing one section at a time against a candle flame. The final step is the application of a clear varnish, giving the eggs a luminous sheen.
To be sure, the entire process, from raw egg to finished product, is delicate and painstaking. A careless knock or moment of inattention can crack or damage the shell. However, with patience and gentle handling, most pieces reach completion without incident.
Who would have thought that an egg could be used as an artist’s canvas?
I’ve pondered that the chickens themselves surely would marvel at the finished product had they the intellect to do so, and I’ve playfully disclosed to the “unskilled” that such eggs are actually laid by Ukrainian chickens. Naturally, no one believed me.
On the Saturday before Easter, the parish priest performs a “blessing” of the Easter baskets. Pysanky (as the eggs are called) are tucked in amid the boiled eggs, ham, paska (Easter bread), salt, butter and other foodstuffs particular to Easter tradition.
Those who have created their own decorated eggs proudly display their handiwork. Baskets are then covered with embroidered cloths, cross-stitched with Easter motifs. Ukrainian embroidery, as seen on dancers’ costumes and men’s and women’s shirts and blouses, is another example of a traditional handicraft.
During the service, the cloths are pulled back and lit candles are tucked in the baskets, creating a dazzling display of colour and light.
The contents of the baskets, now blessed, are to be eaten the following day, on Easter Sunday.
For Ukrainians worldwide, the painting of eggs is a rich and meaningful part of Easter traditions, handed down from generation to generation.
The lead-up to Easter is a time of solemnity and sacrifice. Hymns are sombre, and the time of Lent encourages us to give up a favourite indulgence to remind us of what it’s like for those who have less or are suffering.
The Easter egg is both a commemorative Easter symbol, and a thing of beauty. It is a labour of love that embodies both the splendour and fragility of life.