Ukrainian Easter egg – guardian of the family!

Today, on April 13, 2023, Christians of the Eastern rite celebrate Maundy Thursday. People call it Pure. In traditional Ukrainian culture, prayer was strengthened on this day, houses were cleaned, yards were cleaned, before sunrise people washed their faces and bodies (cleansing their bodies and souls), sewed festive clothes, completed the embroidery of the Easter towel, baked ritual bread – paska, painted Easter eggs – pysankas. According to popular belief, Pysankas created on Maundy Thursday have special power and energy.

The class at the Department of Social Sciences (head, Ph.D., Assoc. O.O. Sikorska) from the elective course “People’s Psychology” for students of the EC 110 group of the first year of medical faculties was dedicated to Easter women. We listened to a mini-lecture of the Doctor of Science in Science, Assoc. Bribkupko T.L. about the history of piesankars, which dates back to ancient times. The oldest archaeological finds of patterned eggs date back to the Christian era. Easter eggs were charms, sometimes they were made of ceramics, stones were placed inside, the sounds were supposed to scare away evil forces. These were the first rattles of talisman toys that babies received in ancient times. This tradition has been preserved to this day – when a special Easter egg is painted for a newborn. The very process of creating Easter eggs is not only creative, but also responsible – depending on the purpose of Easter eggs, certain prayers are read while painting, and special symbolic images are written. An Easter egg given by a girl on a watering Monday could hint at her feelings. If the number of flower petals is even, or the number of branches on the tree of life is even, then the girl expresses her sympathy. If the number is not even, then she does not want to be paired with this guy. Easter eggs with wishes for a happy fate were given by Godparents, and in return they received Easter eggs with wishes for health and longevity.

Since Ukrainians belong to an agricultural culture, Easter eggs reflect the entire cycle of agricultural work from sowing to harvesting. Certain ornaments are written for the appearance of rain during a drought, or for the sun to warm the Earth and have a good harvest. “Wolf” or “teeth” patterns should deter pests, etc.

Bribkupko T.L. demonstrated various ornaments on the example of her own Easter eggs, as well as Easter eggs from the family collection.

Anastasia Martyniuk talked about her own experience of writing Easter eggs. This is a girl’s family tradition. Her great-grandmother Yanko Galina Vasiliivna from Kiriyivka in Zhytomyr Oblast handed over some Easter eggs made just for today’s lesson. The craftswoman not only taught her granddaughters how to paint, but also passed on the family secrets of making natural paints, the peculiarities of penmanship. Anastasia demonstrated her tools and this year’s works.

In our stormy times, the education of patriotism and love for one’s own State, Country, history, culture, and traditions is of great importance. A low bow to the Parents, Grandparents and Grandfathers who, from early childhood, in the family lay down respect for their native Ukrainian traditions!

Tatyana Leonidovna Podkupko,
candidate of historical sciences, associate professor of the department of social sciences
Odesa National Medical University.