Ukrainian Christian Holiday (Easter) Object: "Pysanky"

This is an Easter egg, "pysanky", decorated in the Ukrainian style. The eggs are presented as gifts to friends and relatives on Easter morning. In Ukraine, people have been decorating eggs for many centuries with a dye-resist method. Most of the eggs are "story eggs" with special symbols. For example, birds symbolize spring and the pushing away of evil. A heart design symbolizes love. Fruits and vegetables mean an abundant life and a good harvest.

Designs are drawn on the shell with a pysar, or small, metal-tipped writing tool, dipped in beeswax. Additional designs are drawn onto the shell, protecting lighter dyes, and the eggs are dipped in successively darker dyes. Finally, the egg is held over a candle flame to melt off the wax, revealing the dyed design underneath.

Painting Easter eggs is an especially beloved tradition in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches where the eggs are often dyed red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross.

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ is commemorated on Good Friday, the Friday preceding Easter. In many cultures around the world, the egg is a symbol of new life, fertility and rebirth. For Christians, the Easter egg is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Christian faith is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus or Christ. Jesus, (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son.

The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels declare that Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea. At the age of 30, he began to preach throughout Palestine, which was then under Roman rule. The gospels describe miracles that Jesus performed such as raising the dead.

Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was crucified in Jerusalem, on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Christians believe that Jesus then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, from which he will return.
Source:
Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition) "Easter (Ukraine)." Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary: Detailing More Than 3,000 Observances from All 50 States and More Than 100 Nations. Ed. Cherie D. Abbey. 4th ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2010. 220-221. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 29 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2768200812&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w "Jesus Christ." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 297. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 July 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX1796500200&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech_culture/czech_holidays/easter/ http://christianity.about.com/od/holidaytips/qt/whatiseaster.htm Barooah, Jahnabi. “Easter Eggs: History, Origin, Symbolism and Traditions”. The Huffington Post. Updated 03/31/2013. Document URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/02/easter-eggs-history-origin-symbolism-tradition_n_1392054.htm