Pisanka

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Ukrainian pysanky

Pisanka (plural: Pisanki, Pisankas) is an egg produced by the ancient Slavic art of egg decorating. This tradition originated in pagan times, and was transformed by the process of religious syncretism into the Christian Easter egg. Nevertheless, pisanki have retained much of their pagan symbolism.

Many Slavic ethnic groups, including the Bulgarians (писано яйце, pisano yaytse), Croats (pisanica), Czechs (kraslice), Poles (pisanka), Russians (писанка, pisanka), Serbs (писаница, pisanica), Slovaks (kraslica), Sorbs, Slovenians (pisanica or pirh), and Ukrainians (писанка, pysanka) decorate eggs for Easter. The name "pisanka" derives from the slavic root pisa which relates to writing. In slavic tradition, the egg (similar to icons) is written, not drawn or painted.

The pattern is applied to an egg by the process of wax-resist, similar to batik. A kistka is used to apply hot wax to the shell of an egg, which is placed in a series of dye baths. The wax seals the dye into the egg; the colors and pattern are revealed when the wax is removed (by melting it off) at the end.

While pisanki of various Slavic nations have very much in common, national traditions vary.