Ukrainian Hand Painted Egg

These wooden eggs (pysanky, Pysanka or Pysanki) are hand-painted in Ukraine according the traditional style. Bright and joyful, they make ideal gifts and decorations.

Size is about 2.25 inches (6 cm). Sold individually. Colors will vary.

With each purchase, know that it helps the artisans and their families in the suffering Ukraine. 

Tradition of the Pysanky Egg

Long ago, in a small village nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, a woman named Oksana was preparing for the celebration of Easter. Oksana was a skilled artist, and she loved to paint intricate designs on eggs using a technique called pysanky.

Pysanky is a traditional Ukrainian art form that involves drawing intricate designs on eggs with hot wax, then dyeing the eggs to create colorful patterns. The practice of making pysanky dates back thousands of years and is deeply connected to the culture and traditions of Ukraine.

As Oksana worked on her eggs, she thought about the meaning of Easter and the story of Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus who witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection. She was the first person to see the risen Christ and was tasked with spreading the news of his resurrection to the other disciples.

Oksana was deeply inspired by Mary Magdalene's courage and devotion to her faith. She decided to create a special pysanka to honor Mary Magdalene and her role in the Easter story. She used symbols and colors to represent different aspects of Mary Magdalene's life and journey.

The egg was divided into four sections, each representing a different part of Mary Magdalene's story. In the first section, Oksana drew a heart to symbolize Mary Magdalene's love for Jesus. In the second section, she drew a cross to represent his crucifixion. In the third section, she drew a sun to represent his resurrection. And in the fourth section, she drew a bird to represent Mary Magdalene's role as a messenger of the good news.

As Oksana finished her pysanka, she felt a sense of peace and joy. She knew that the egg would bring comfort and inspiration to those who saw it. And she was right - when she brought the egg to church on Easter Sunday, it was admired by everyone who saw it.

From that day on, the tradition of creating pysanky eggs to celebrate Easter and honor Mary Magdalene continued to spread throughout Ukraine and beyond. Today, the art of pysanky is still cherished and practiced by many people around the world, serving as a reminder of the beauty and meaning of Easter, as well as the inspiring story of Mary Magdalene.