When I was in college a group of us who liked doing crafts would get together once a month and learn a new craft. One month, someone picked up Ukrainian Easter Egg decorating kits for all of us and we sat around the table and taught ourselves how to do the Wax/Batik method of writing eggs. (They are not dyed, or painted - the correct term is written.) I fell in love with the art and have been doing it ever since (over 40 years!)
The more I learned about it, I discovered it wasn't just a Ukrainian tradition but was practiced throughout most of Eastern Europe including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Austria and parts of Germany. Each region has it's own style and motifs that are easily recognizable. Little did I know that several years later, I would marry my husband whose ancestry is Czech and the art took on a whole new meaning and love for it!
I do not have Czech/Slovak ancestry. My ancestors were Scots/Welsh on one side and Norwegian/Danish on the other and immigrated to the US so far back that we haven't been able to determine who/when they came. All cultural traditions were lost several generations ago.
There are several styles of writing eggs, the wax/batik method (Kraslice), drop-pull method, Lemko method, Drapinski (scratched) method, Romanian method (colored wax is left on the egg), Appliqued Straw, and others.
In the traditional Kraslice method, melted beeswax and dyes are used to create the designs. The dyes are layered one on top of another going from lightest to darkest with melted wax applied with a kistka (a special tool designed to hold the molten wax and apply it to the egg as if writing) on each color to retain that color. After the last color is applied, all of the wax is removed to reveal a beautiful egg of striking colors.
The colors and symbols/designs used on the eggs have significance and are considered prayers as you write the eggs.
I love teaching Kraslice classes and sharing the art with others as well as giving the finished eggs as gifts.
You can find Darla's next class on our events tab