Max Hansen Kitchen: Happy Easter! Handcrafted Ukrainian Pysanki by Andrea Hansen

We visited with Andrea Hansen in her home the other day when she was making Ukrainian Easter eggs with friends and family. Pysanki, or Ukrainian Easter eggs, are a traditional craft with over a thousand years of history. The tradition is passed on from generation to generation. It was Andrea's aunt who taught her and her siblings how to make these ornately detailed eggs. In a method that is similar to batik, traditional or even original patterns are drawn on the egg with wax, which then protects the covered areas from the dye that is applied. By repeating this process with different colors of dye Andrea created the multi colored eggs seen here. Finally, by carefully holding the egg close to a candle flame the wax is warmed and removed to reveal the vibrant colors that were covered up at each stage. Traditional patterns and colors are rich in meaning and some incorporate Christian symbolism. Some symbolism even predates Christianity. Thanks for sharing your beautiful tradition with us Andrea!