Colorful eggs of Lusatian Sorbs (Serbjo, Serby). Pattern explanation is from the book: Andrea Paulik Pawlikowa - Pruhi, kruhi, třiróžki. Pisane serbske jutrowne jejka
Translation: sun, half sun, goose feet, sword, wolf’s teeth, triangles without spaces, grapes, snake, flower motifs, archway, pattern of triangles, circle with edge of triangles, i-dash, wheel - circle, Honeycomb, compartments, bands, bee cell pattern
PaintingEaster eggs, an ancient custom preserved across Bulgaria, traditionally takes place on either the Thursday (Велики четвъртък) or the Saturday (Велика събота) before Easter(Великден).
The eggs, called писани яйца in Bulgarian (from пиша, meaning to write or draw) are decorated with various geometric and floral motifs, drawn with wax, then, depending on the technique used, the shapes are either filled in by hand via paintbrush, or the entire egg is dipped into a container of dye. With the second method, the wax is later melted off to reveal a negative design. This process may be repeated several times with different dyes for a multicolored effect.
Many cultures regard the egg as a symbol of new life and associate it with springtime. Among Orthodox Bulgarians these roots have syncretized with Christian belief and practice — the very first egg is always painted a solid red (symbolizing Christ’s blood) and, while still wet, used to draw crosses on children’s foreheads. It is then placed in front of an icon or buried in the yard and retrieved a year later. Based on the state of its contents, predictions can be made regarding the household’s fortunes.
On Easter Sunday the eggs are cracked against one another and the person whose egg “defeats” the rest (borak) is said to be healthy and lucky throughout the year.
Many Central European and Eastern European cultures decorate eggs in celebration for Easter. It was originally a pre-Christian tradition celebrating the sun, rebirth and the coming of spring, but has since taken on the Christian interpretation of symbolizing Christ’s resurrection. Despite being associated mostly with Christianity in the present day, older symbols may still adorn the eggs, although their original meanings have been superimposed by Christian ones. Decorated eggs are often given to friends and family as gifts and are often traditionally made by women, with the art being passed from generation to generation through mothers and grandmothers to their daughters and granddaughters. Different cultures use different motifs, symbols and colors, making eggs from each region unique!
Silesiankroszonki (pisanki), from an exhibition of an annual competition held in Bytom, Poland.
In the old days the kroszonki / pisanki were gifted for people within communities along with Easter wishes. It was an old custom connected to pre-Christian times, observed in all regions of Poland.
A lot of the most iconic kroszonki from Silesia are decorated by dyeing the eggs first and then carefully scratching off the decorative motifs with the use of small sharp tools. Easter eggs made in this technique are known also as drapanki in other regions of Poland (derived from drapać - to scratch).
In Silesia their colour was extremely important. For example, red kroszonki were gifted as a message of love, while yellow ones meant rejection (polite way of saying no to others’ advances), green meant hope and wishes of a positive change in someone’s life, violet meant ‘you’re not welcomed in my house’, blue meant wishes of a good health, and black ones were gifted for the most important people in the community such as a priest or a village mayor (black was seen as the most elegant colour in the region of Silesia, and held a great importance also in the everyday life - Silesia is known as a coal mining region). However, the messages behind the colours of kroszonki were often changing between various areas in Silesia.
Traditional pisanki (decorated Easter eggs) from various regions of Poland [all images via Wiano.eu].
Wordpisanki is derived from the verb pisać (”to write” or in old Polish: “to paint”) as a reference to old tradition of leaving messages or wishes on the eggs. Originating as an ancient pagan tradition, the custom of preparing pisanki was absorbed into Christianity. Nowadays, in a form of the “Easter eggs”, they are being put into the Easter baskets (remnants of old Slavic food offerings) for the blessing in churches on the Holy Saturday.
