Hungarian Pysanky: The Art of Egg Decorating
Hungarian Pysanky | Source: Munkácsy Museum
The Art of Egg Decorating
Many cultures share this ancient art form, including the Greeks, Czechs, Russians, Romanians, and, perhaps best-known, the Ukrainians. Historically egg decorating is rooted in pagan symbolism and is often practiced when the winter season becomes spring. In the same way, pysanky represents good wishes and blessings, so it’s no wonder that performing the craft aligns easily with the Christian celebration of Easter.
In this article, you will learn:
- Egg decorating methods
- Different motifs and their meanings
- A short history of pysanky eggs
Most Important Tip: Flawless Egg
A very important tip in making your own, is to choose eggs with no cracks or imperfections in the shell.
Whether in Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, or Ukraine (and many others!) you can find highly decorated eggs during the Easter season. For some, it is an integral part of their Easter holiday tradition.
1. Making a Decorative Egg
It’s important to use high-quality eggs when planning pysanky. Smooth-shelled, white, strong eggs are best. You can find high-quality eggs from independent purveyors at farmers’ markets or organic food stores. Once you have your eggs, it’s best to carefully clean and empty them so they do not smell.
My Oldtime Method of Preparing the Shell
When I was a kid, i decorated eggs. My method was a bit simpler, but similar to the above video.
- Using a large darning needle, I poked holes on both ends of the egg. One larger, one smaller.
- I then inserted the needle and broke up the egg.
- I simply blew the contents out with my mouth.
Not terribly sanitary, but in those days I wasn’t too worried and threw away the removed egg insides.
Common Elements For Decorating Eggs
Lacy Hungarian egg patterns
Colors | Motifs | Methods |
|---|---|---|
red | flowers | wax resist |
purple/blue | animals | painting |
green/black | eight-point stars | etching |
What Else Do You Need for Pysanky?
In order to color your egg, you’ll need what’s called “kitska,” or a stylus with a reservoir for beeswax. You may want to find different sizes because they will allow you to draw thick or thin lines. There’s a kit to purchase on Amazon that has everything you need for making pysanky.
Hungarians call this technique, “writing” the decoration on the egg.
Dyes are added to the egg from the lightest color to the darkest in the pysanky method. Wax is placed on the egg to preserve the color before the next darker color is applied.
The Scratch Method (or Drapanka)
Shepherd motif on scratchwork or etched egg | Source: Magyar Vagyok
With the scratching method, the dark color is scratched away to produce two-tone designs.
There is an age-old method of using plants and plant dyes to give the eggs a subtle color. Leaves are steeped in a dye solution, or onion skins are wrapped around the egg, and the plant imparts color. Often onion skins were used for the dye, which gives a warm red-brown color.
After the shell is dyed, a sharp tool such as a needle is used to carve the design into the surface. The color of the undyed eggshell contrasting with the dye makes the design.
A Variety of Designs
Pysanky made to look like cross-stitch embroidery.
Bright, Vibrant Colors Eastern European Easter Eggs
Modern Design Pysanky
2. Hungarian Symbols and Motifs
Typical Hungarian Motif: Bird and Flower
Traditionally, Magyars (native Hungarians) exchanged decorated eggs the way we use greeting cards today. Using symbols and symbolic colors would send a message, usually consisting of good wishes for long life or family and personal blessings. A number of pre-Christian symbols included:
- The Universe: The universe was symbolized by geometric shapes and heavenly bodies. It symbolized the highest forces of the natural world.
- Spring: Floral patterns and some animals symbolized spring and were symbolic of hope. Spring rituals celebrating new life from winter’s death are ancient and even predate dynastic Egypt.
- Birds: Different birds were symbolic of different things. Hens symbolized fertility, roosters a rich marriage, and storks were symbolic of babies.
- Bears’ Paws: Bears’ paws symbolized the protection of the home.
Like their embroidering, the Hungarians originally preferred intricate patterns, but very simple color choices for their Easter eggs. Avacal.org offers an extensive history of pysanky that’s worth reading—they include how-tos and more detailed information about symbolism and dyes.
Interested in Symbolic Meanings?
- Birds = harbingers of spring
- Rooster or hen = fertile, abundance
- Deer, horses and rams = wealth
- Spiders = patience
- Ladders = prosperity
- Pine = health
- Sun = vitality
Various geometric designs and symbols such as the triskele are used. Significantly, they often mean life or good fortune.
Painted Egg Colors
Dr. István Györffy, in his study on painted eggs, writes: … “The Hungarian folk Easter eggs are characterized by tasteful simplicity in a one color pattern which are mostly red. Brown, black, and blue rarely occur. They do not care for the multi-colored eggs. The most beautiful patterns are made in seven Csango villages (Brasov county) and in Szekely.”
Creative Inspiration
Floral Elements
Unquestionably, floral elements are favored in all Hungarian folklore decorative arts. Tulips, leaves, roses, and daisy forms, as well as cornflower and others might well be seen; especially when decorating surfaces.
Floral egg design motifs | Source: Gergely Szucs
Motif Meanings | Source: Magyar Vagyok
Hungarian style designs from a vintage book. Source: PAINTED EGG OF MAGIC POWER
More Hungarian Designs | Source: Ajándék Katalógus
Regional Designs | Source: Huszadik Szazad
How Painted Eggs Became an Easter Symbol
The Christian holiday Easter marks the resurrection of Christ from the grave, and this new life for a believer was represented well by the age-old symbolism of the egg.
Hímestojás
Magyar word for the decorated Easter eggs.
Decorated Eggs Are Symbolic of Rebirth and Eternal Life
Similarly, symbols for concepts found inside this most important event for Christians found their way into designs painted on the eggs:
- Trinity Symbols and Rounds: Intertwined loops symbolize eternal life.
- Straight Lines: Dividing lines around the egg symbolized temporal and eternal life.
- Half Circles: Half circles symbolized a new day or resurrection.
Moreover, the old motifs came to have new meanings with the spread of Christianity. Layered meanings of these beliefs on the ancient pysanky made this a central custom that carried on, even when the original pagan beliefs were gone.
History, Symbolism, And Ritual
Origins of the Easter egg reach into the pagan customs and motif meanings.
Hungarian-Style Pysanky
Short History of the Symbolic Egg in Eastern Europe
A very early find of an Avar burial ground in Croatia yielded evidence of these iconic mementoes with carved designs as grave goods. Slavic peoples decorated eggs and some from the 10th century were discovered. In similar fashion, the ritual act of using designs on eggs reaches far back in time and is found in ancient Mesopotamia.
Motifs In Modern Times
As time progressed, the designs changed from abstract symbols to more recognizable motifs that are common to the painting and Magyar-style embroidery decorations that Hungarians adorn in everyday life. Hearts, leaves, roses, and tulips are among the most popular and familiar to us today.
Do you collect any type of Easter egg?
Decorated Hungarian Easter Egg Links
- How to Make Beautiful Pysanky
Traditional Ukrainian decorated eggs created in the springtime ,much like Easter eggs, are called Pysanky. Learn more about this ancient craft. - Tips and techniques for decorating your Easter eggs from the Daily News Hungary
Descriptions of egg decorating styles and more! - Hungarian Easter Eggs – Cleveland Hungarian Museum
Please leave comments about your experience with egg decorating or collecting. Can you see the similarities and distinctions of the regional styles of egg decorating?
© 2016 Ilona Erwin
