Ukrainian batik
The term Ukrainian batik often refers to the art form of decorating Easter eggs using a wax resist method. The most commonly recognized use of wax resist on eggs is called pysanky. However, there are several other types of eggs created by the Ukrainian people using a wax resist process.
The three types of Ukrainian eggs are:
Pysanky- Raw eggs are decorated using wax resist and layers of dye and dying from the lightest color to the darkest thus creating symbolic patterns on the egg.
Krapanky- Raw eggs are decorated using a beeswax candle dripped on the egg in a pattern of dots which create a wax resist. These are similar to pysanky, but unlike pysanky which are decorated with symbolic images, krapanky only feature patterns of dots.
Travlenky-Travlenky eggs are not traditionally Ukrainian, but are gaining popularity in the Ukraine. Travlenky are created by waxing the entire egg and then scraping away areas of wax to create a pattern.
It is believed that decorated eggs have been a part of Ukrainian culture since ancient times. However, there are unfortunately no examples of these ancient eggs due to the fragile nature of egg shells.
The practice of decorating eggs is thought to have originated in the pagan practices of the early Slavic people. The main deity in their culture was the sun god Dazboh. The early Slavic people believed that birds were Dazboah’s chosen creatures as they were they only ones who possessed the gift of flight and thus could get near him. Although, humans could not catch the birds, they could gather the eggs that the birds laid. These eggs were considered magical and it was believed that they had special powers. As the Slavic people converted from paganism to Christianity the eggs came to represent the rebirth of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, decorating eggs was banned as a religious practice under the Soviet regime. However, the art of batik eggs was thankfully imported to North and South America where the practice spread and thrived. Despite nearly dying out and the fact that many great collections of eggs were destroyed by war and by the Soviets, the practice was revived in 1991 when the Ukrainians gained their independence.
Pysanky- Raw eggs are decorated using wax resist and layers of dye and dying from the lightest color to the darkest thus creating symbolic patterns on the egg.
Krapanky- Raw eggs are decorated using a beeswax candle dripped on the egg in a pattern of dots which create a wax resist. These are similar to pysanky, but unlike pysanky which are decorated with symbolic images, krapanky only feature patterns of dots.
Travlenky-Travlenky eggs are not traditionally Ukrainian, but are gaining popularity in the Ukraine. Travlenky are created by waxing the entire egg and then scraping away areas of wax to create a pattern.
It is believed that decorated eggs have been a part of Ukrainian culture since ancient times. However, there are unfortunately no examples of these ancient eggs due to the fragile nature of egg shells.
The practice of decorating eggs is thought to have originated in the pagan practices of the early Slavic people. The main deity in their culture was the sun god Dazboh. The early Slavic people believed that birds were Dazboah’s chosen creatures as they were they only ones who possessed the gift of flight and thus could get near him. Although, humans could not catch the birds, they could gather the eggs that the birds laid. These eggs were considered magical and it was believed that they had special powers. As the Slavic people converted from paganism to Christianity the eggs came to represent the rebirth of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, decorating eggs was banned as a religious practice under the Soviet regime. However, the art of batik eggs was thankfully imported to North and South America where the practice spread and thrived. Despite nearly dying out and the fact that many great collections of eggs were destroyed by war and by the Soviets, the practice was revived in 1991 when the Ukrainians gained their independence.
