I’ve been writing Ukrainian Easter eggs. They’re called pysanky (pronounced py-san-KY), from the word pysaty (py-SAH-ty), which means “to write.” That’s why you “write” pysanky; you don’t paint them. (The y is pronounced like the u in the word business. And a single one is called a PY-san-kah.)
I made up some of my own designs and copied some from books. I didn’t turn out any masterpieces, but it was fun!
This year, I focused on designs from two regions. The designs from Sokal’, the region my maternal grandfather was from, were often gold, red and black.
![](https://storyphile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_1329-1024x768.jpg)
Traditional embroidery from this area also uses these colours, although Sokal’ is also known for its beautiful and intricate all-black embroidery motifs.
This pysanka from the Sokal’ region is called “duck feet.”
![](https://storyphile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_1328-1024x768.jpg)
I also did some pysanky from Podillia, where the rest of my family was from.
![](https://storyphile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_1330-1024x768.jpg)
These two are “pine trees.”
![](https://storyphile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_1331-1024x768.jpg)
And this one is called “little boots,” but I’m not sure why.
![](https://storyphile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_1332-1024x768.jpg)