Kids Stuff

Pre-Christian Folklore and Tales in the Ukraine

Many of these tales and legends influenced the design or symbols found on the design of Ukrainian Easter Eggs or 'Pysanky'. These examples of pre-Christian folklore illustrate the deep respect men and women in the ancient world had for nature.

Pear Trees
In the past, many people in the ancient region (now Ukraine) believed that if a tree was injured or wounded, it would cry, shed tears, and bleed much like a person. It was thought that a tree (especially a fruit bearing tree) had a soul and should be respected as one would respect a friend or family member.

A popular story from this region discusses a man who decided to cut down a pear tree for the reason of building a house. It is said that the man instantly experienced painful hardship because his horse died, his cow began to give sour milk, and his wife began to nag him. After some time he noticed the roots of the pear tree had started to come up through the floor boards and since he knew he had lost the battle with the tree, he decided to tear down his house and plant some pear trees; he decided to plant seven trees because it was considered to be a mystical number.

Once again, the cow began to give good milk; he was able to purchase another horse that was superior to the one that had died, and his wife became loving and good natured again. The man was eased because he did not have to endure his punishment any longer; the soul of the pear tree was now living at peace within the seven new trees.

Apple Trees
Another tale involves a man and woman who had a beautiful apple orchard; however, one particular tree never bore any fruit. To resolve the dilemma, the man and woman went into the orchard where the wife stood behind the tree. The man raised an ax and said three times in a strong voice, "Will you bear fruit or not"? Each time after the man said this, his wife would answer "Yes, I will". After this, the man tied a rope around the trunk of the tree to seal the promise and the tree bore fruit in the following year; so the legend explains that this is the best way to force a tree to obey.

Spiders and Spider Webs
Surprisingly, a place where a spider web was found was deemed as a lucky location and if a spider web or webs were discovered in a barn, the farmer thought that the yield or production of his cows would be guaranteed. On the other hand, if an individual got rid of the spider webs, everyone worried that the quality of the milk would be bad or disappear altogether. Hence, the ancient Ukrainian cliché "If there is no web, there is no cream".

When choosing to build a house, a pot containing a small amount of cream and a spider was placed on the site of the location of the future home. Later when the pot was opened, if the spider had begun to spin a web over the cream, the location was considered to be lucky. Further, the web building habits of spiders in the fields were used to determine weather forecasting; if a spider built a light web, the farmers would expect a long spell of calm weather.

The spider was even used for medicinal purposes during this period of time. In fact, a spider could be killed but only with the back of the hand. The convention was that a spider would be killed with the back of the hand and then wiped on the forehead of a sick animal hoping that the power of the spider would heal the poor creature. Also, during this time, it was not uncommon to wrap a spider web around a cut or wound to stop bleeding.

Birds
Birds were really important to the people of this time period and region; after all, they place such a great importance on decorating their eggs. The following tale is a legend concerning the origin of 'Pysanky' and how the first 'Pysanky' came from the sky.

The legend explains that a cold and bitter winter had swept across the land with such a speed that the migrating birds had no chance to fly to warmer lands. The birds endured great resistance from the cold and chilling air and began to fall to the ground; in addition, they were too cold to fly and take care of themselves.

Having seen this, the peasants gathered the frozen birds and carried them into their homes. Throughout the cruel cold winter, the people took care of the birds and when spring arrived, they set them free. The birds left for several days and on their return presented each peasant with a 'Pysanky' as thanks for their hospitality; ever since this occurrence, the Easter eggs or "Pysanky" have decorated during the spring season.

Ukrainian Easter and the Pysanky 'Easter Egg'

History of the Easter Egg 'Pysanka' and Different Traditions
The sun is a symbol that has been universally worshipped throughout the ancient world; Perhaps, since the sun is considered the source of all life. In the region known as the Ukraine, past civilizations chose the egg for sun worshipping ceremonies that took place mostly in the spring time. Much like many regions, the winter season in this geographic area was one of cold and most creatures and plants remain dormant. When spring began and the new life appeared, the egg was considered to be the ideal icon of the rejuvenation of life. As one might expect, when an egg was broken, the yolk represented the sun and the egg whites represented the moon.

References to the 'Pysanky' or Easter Eggs can be found in many examples of the socio-cultural life of Ukrainian people such as: poetry, songs, art. Individuals of all ages consider the 'Pysanka' to have power to help them in their daily lives. In addition, the ancient 'Pysanky' were not the creation of any one artist or region, but represented the production of a whole nation. Likewise, the complexity of the designs, colour, legends, and craftsmanship correlated with the growth of the Ukrainian culture.

For these people, the eggs possessed special power and the creation of one was considered to be a harmonious and satisfying experience. In fact, to receive an egg was a symbol of good wishes or fortune. In addition, the design of the egg represented who the intended receiver would be; for example children received a light color egg with floral design whereas a teenager might receive an egg decorated with a great deal of white to represent their blank future yet to be written. On the other hand, a married couple 'hospodari' would have been the recipient of 40 triangle eggs. The couple worked with their families on their farms and welcomed the power in all aspects of their lives which the 40 triangle symbolized. An elderly person would receive a black egg with a belt, ladder and gates to represent or symbolize heavenly bridges; in addition, similar pysanky were carried to the cemeteries of the ancestors. Finally, white eggs with simple designs were usually reserved for the graves of little children.

Blown eggs were used to decorate the fruit trees in this region in the spring in the hopes of a fine harvest; the farmers would hang eggs in the orchards and in the young trees surrounding the house. It was thought to assist the tree with bearing fruit and lead to be a very beautiful sight. Each part of society has used ‘pysanky’ in different ways developing its own tradition and stories concerning the power of the egg. Some of the different practices include those individuals who are farmers, shepherds, and Maidens. The designs of the 'Pysanky' evolved and changed over time as well as the symbols, however, the 'Pysanka' will always been regarded as an example of Ukrainian folk art.

Farmers
The farmers had a practice in the spring time of rubbing a decorated egg on the chest of oxen and other animals to alleviate the friction of harnesses; after, the farmer would bury the egg in the ground in hopes of a abundant harvest. In addition, blown eggs were hung on strings over the door of their barns in hopes of preventing a fire or a strike from a lightning bolt. They further believed that if a stranger were to enter the barn, they must look at the egg before they entered the barn in order to protect the animals from the 'evil eye'. These traditions may seem silly or ridiculous to us however, they also thought that a circle was very important; a farmer's made a circle in over the door of the barn. Additionally, if a farmer was caught in a storm, he would clear a circular patch of ground and place sticks at the edge and finally stand in the middle of the circle. Once inside the circle, he felt no harm could come to him; hence the circle and its importance to these people would be a reason that the circle is the most popular symbol of the 'Pysanky'.

Shepherds
In the spring time, one of the first examples of vegetation to bloom is some little yellow flowers that grow in the fields. In the past, the shepherds would gather these flowers and would weave what is known as 'vinky' (which are garlands of flowers to be worn around the head of maidens in the Ukraine). One only has to visit the Carousel of Nations in Windsor or any Ukrainian festival to see that women are wearing this head piece in honour of traditional dress.

Maidens
Ivana Kupala is a Ukrainian holiday that finds its origins in paganism and Christianity; the holiday occurs in the spring time. In the past, maidens would gather around a river during the evening of this holiday and release a delicate 'vinok' in the stream. A 'vinok' is the traditional garland that young women wore on their head. It was thought that once the 'vinok' was released in the water, the location that it eventually settled would be the direction from which their lover would come. If the 'vinok' sank, the young woman would have to be careful not to become an old maid. And if the 'vinok' came apart then nothing would come of her hopes of finding a lover and she had to wait till the next time.