Many years ago I bought a pysanky decorating kit from one of the Ukrainian tables at the International Institute's “Old World Market”. I did in fact decorate a few eggs using the dyes and materials provided, though my discipline in following a traditional pattern lasted roughly 15 seconds, or maybe till I put down my second or third line.

The problem with traditional pysanky (singular pysanka) is that the Ukranians use raw eggs (which they empty) and aniline dyes (which are not food safe) and clean the wax off with toxic solvents (such as lighter fluid.) I was completely unable to drain any eggs, even pricking it with two holes, let alone one, and wasn't thrilled with the idea of using flammable, toxic solvents to remove the wax.

Like so many Americans, my trouble is not a lack of possessions but far too many of them; even my friends who possess knicknacks were not thrilled with the eggs, the no-doubt-rotten-contents having sloshed around in their refrigerators for some odd years. Like the gift decorating I wanted something emphemeral, more like the traditional american easter eggs, which are hard-boiled, dipped in food-safe dyes and consumed.

Thus I hit upon combining the two traditions last year. The eggs from 2000 were colored with much better quality dye; this year's dye, old fashioned tablets from a sesame street kit, had the nasty tendancy of peeling right off the eggs. In any case, the technique makes for a rather pastel-ish product, in contrast to the brilliantly colored traditional Ukranian eggs. However, pastels are associated with Easter anyway, so that isn't a problem for me.

filed updated 18apr06