Lecture, workshop planned

As part of a collaboration between Christiana Parks and Recreation and the Sadsbury Friends Meeting, not only will community members be able to learn about the history of Pysanky eggs, but they will get to try their hand at creating one.

The two-part program about Pysanky eggs, which are Ukrainian Easter eggs colored with intricate designs and patterns, will begin with a lecture on Saturday, April 26, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Sadsbury Friends Meeting, 1089 Simmontown Road, Gap, as part of its speaker series.

Guest presenter Chrystyna Prokopvych, curator of the Manor College Ukrainian Heritage Studies Center, will provide information about the history, legends and symbolism of the egg.

Part two of the program will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christiana Borough Hall, 10 W. Slokom Ave., Christiana. During the program, Prokopvych will teach participants how to make Ukrainian Pysanky eggs, and they will be able to take their creations home.

Monica Hottenstein, who hails from a Ukrainian family and is a member of both participating organizations, noted that the Pysanky egg has become a cultural symbol for Ukraine, adding that the word "pysanky" in Ukrainian means "to write."

She explained that the eggs are made using colorful dyes and a wax-resistant (batik) method. Layers of wax are applied to the egg in specific patterns, and then the egg is dipped into dyes. The wax prevents the dye from coloring the parts of the egg covered by it.

"You have a regular white egg, and you have a tool; it looks like a pen, but it is filled with melted wax, not ink," she explained. "If you want an area on the egg to be triangles and you want those in white, you draw with the pen on the egg where you want it white. The next lightest color available would be yellow, and you dip the egg in yellow dye. The whole egg will be yellow expect the area where there is wax."

She said that the process is repeated with various colors. "It's layers of dye and layers of wax, and by the end, the whole egg will be covered with wax, and you melt the wax off, and you have the design of the egg," said Hottenstein.

According to a history of the Pysanky egg provided by Hottenstein, the creation of the eggs started before the 10th century, when ancient Ukrainians worshipped nature and recognized its importance to humanity. With the acceptance of Christianity in the 10th century, the eggs took on the meaning of the Resurrection of Christ and the rebirth of mankind. The eggs are thought to bring good luck, health, wealth and a bountiful harvest. Some people believe that they ward off evil.

"It's a very unique craft, but it is centuries old," said Hottenstein. "It has continued and passed down from one generation to the next. The patterns all have symbolism."

Hottenstein has a collection of Pysanky eggs, some of which come from family members, including her Ukrainian parents. She noted that if the eggs do not crack, they will last indefinitely.

"You have to handle them gently. I have them in a glass bowl," she noted. "They eventually dry out inside. I have eggs that are decades old."

The lecture on April 26 is free; no registration is required. A fee will be charged for the workshop on May 3, which is open to people age 14 and over. All materials will be provided, and space is limited.

To reserve a spot, visit http://www.christianaparksandrec.com. A link to register is also available at http://www.facebook.com/christianaparksandrec. Those with questions may contact Hottenstein at mph13@hotmail.com.

More information about Sadsbury Friends Meeting, including its speaker series, is available by calling Connie Webster at 484-985-0454, visiting http://www.sadsburyfriendsmeeting.org or searching for "Sadsbury Friends Meeting" on Facebook.