Getting started with Pysanky
Well, one more week until Holy Week, just enough time to consider whether you might like to try the traditional Easter art of pysanky! Pysanky, or the creation of decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs, is a very old practice that originated in Eastern Europe. Traditionally during Holy Week, and in some communitites throughout Lent, Ukrainian ladies would gather in the evenings to decorate these special Easter eggs to adorn the baskets that they would bring to be blessed Easter morning. The baskets were a celebration of new life, often including things that had been given up during Lent, such as meat, eggs, and rich breads. Last year I was curious and decided to try this art for the first time. My children joined me in learning, and we have all come to enjoy and value this quiet, simple, meditative activity. Perhaps you might like to try it as well this year? The materials you will need are very simple and inexpensive: a kistka (writing tool) beeswax for pysanky a candle and holder matches eggs (you can …