Pysanky – “Beauty will Save the World”
By Jeanne Guillemette
‘Beauty has the power to move our souls…
There is a quote from Dostoyevsky that says “Beauty will save the world”. Beauty has the power to move our souls and to turn us from the mundane to the spiritual. It can lead us to prayer. Likewise, participating in artistic, creative works can lift the soul and open our hearts to God, engaging both body and soul.
…and open our hearts to God’
During the time of Lent, many of us in Madonna House make pysanky, a traditional art form using wax and dyes (wax relief) to decorate eggs. This technique was developed long ago in many Eastern bloc nations, even during pagan times, but took on new meaning and expression in those countries which became Christian.
Pysanky is a Russian/Ukrainian word whose root means “to write”. One ‘writes’ on an egg with melted wax, using a special instrument called a kitska, which looks like a pen with a little metal funnel tip. Usually, you begin working with the natural colour of the egg, applying melted wax on the part of the design you wish to remain that colour. Then you dip the egg into a light coloured dye solution and apply wax to the part of the design you wish to keep that colour. This process is repeated until all the desired colours are applied and covered with wax. Finally, the wax is removed (by melting and wiping it off), and all the colours of the egg ‘burst forth’!
‘The egg is an ancient symbol of nature’s rebirth in Spring‘
So, why do we do this during Lent? The egg is an ancient symbol of nature’s rebirth in Spring. During Lent, which takes us into Spring, we journey with Christ toward rebirth through His Passion, death and Resurrection. In fact, in the Eastern Churches, this time of repentance and preparation before Easter is often referred to as the ‘Lenten Spring’. It is the renewal of our own journey from death to life in Christ.
The egg we use for pysanky can symbolize the tomb from which Christ arose from the dead. We decorate it with the colours and symbols of life to represent the resurrection. The traditional designs used in the motifs express our faith. For example: a triangle represents the Trinity, a fish is a symbol for Jesus, waves signify eternity, ladders are prayers going up to God, etc.
We usually make these pysanky in silent meditation, praying perhaps for the person to whom we will give the decorated egg as a gift. There is a tradition that holds that making pysanky helps to “push back the darkness” in our world. We give the pysanky as an Easter gift, or use the pysanky for decorating our homes, hanging them on strings or displaying them in bowls or on little stands as part of our Easter decorations.
Here in Madonna House Robin Hood’s Bay, we offer the possibility of learning how to make pysanky. There is no need to be an artist, but it is surprising how a little effort to master this technique will produce something beautiful.
If you are interested, do come and see!
Previous Months Letters from Madonna House
February 2025: A Dip into Ordinary Time By Jeanne Guillemette
January 2025: A Pilgrimage Towards the Absolute By Rev. Kieran Kilcommons
December 2024: A Christmas Gift By Carol Ann Gieske
November 2024: Finding Christ in the Saints By Mathieu Dacquay
October 2024: The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi By Jeanne Guillemette
September 2024: The Triumph of the Cross By Rev. Kieran Kilcommons
August 2024: Jesus and the Little Girl By Carol Ann Gieske
July 2024: Dont Forget to take Jesus Home By Jeanne Guillemette
June 2024: Living Under Mary’s Mantle By Fr. Michael Weitl
May 2024: Vocation & Journey in Christ’ By Mathieu Dacquay
April 2024: Christ Lives! By Carol Ann Gieske
March 2024: Putting everything ‘on the altar’ By Jeanne Guillemette
February 2024: Finding Peace in Surrender to Christ By Mathieu Dacquay
January 2024: Celebrating Epiphany with the Christian east By Fr. Michael Weitl
December 2023: Journeying through Advent with Joseph By Carol Ann Gieske
November 2023: The Saints Are Alive By Jeanne Guillemette
October 2023: Ordinary Miracles By Mathieu Dacquay