Romanian Traditions of Romanian Traditions of Painted Easter Eggs Painted Easter Eggs The art craft of pained Easter eggs The art craft of pained Easter eggs

is a very old traditionis a very old tradition..

TThe method of painting eggs he method of painting eggs starts in the pre-Christian period, starts in the pre-Christian period,

as a form of celebrating lifeas a form of celebrating life..

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Easter is the most important event in the Easter is the most important event in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Traditionally, Orthodox Christian calendar. Traditionally, celebrations in Romania begin on the Saturday celebrations in Romania begin on the Saturday evening. Dressed in all their finest clothes and evening. Dressed in all their finest clothes and holding candles, people gather round the holding candles, people gather round the churches. At the Easter Resurrection Mass just churches. At the Easter Resurrection Mass just before midnight, the priest comes out to give a before midnight, the priest comes out to give a blessing, distribute holy bread and provide the blessing, distribute holy bread and provide the flame from which everyone will light their flame from which everyone will light their candles. Suddenly the darkness is lit up and candles. Suddenly the darkness is lit up and thousands of candles take to the streets. thousands of candles take to the streets.

The Method of Painted EggsThe Method of Painted Eggs One of the most beautiful Romanian Easter One of the most beautiful Romanian Easter

traditions is painted eggs. The shells of hard-traditions is painted eggs. The shells of hard-boiled eggs are dyed in colourful patterns, with a boiled eggs are dyed in colourful patterns, with a rich red the prevailing colour. They are often rich red the prevailing colour. They are often decorated with folk motifs. Designs are made decorated with folk motifs. Designs are made with an implement called a with an implement called a condeicondei or or chisitachisita - a - a small cartridge filled with paint with a sharp point small cartridge filled with paint with a sharp point on the end. on the end.

In In BucovinaBucovina, more than anywhere else, painting eggs is , more than anywhere else, painting eggs is raised to the art level. The folkloric motifs used can be raised to the art level. The folkloric motifs used can be found in all the Romanian symbolism: the sun, the leaf found in all the Romanian symbolism: the sun, the leaf and as a reconfirmation of our christianity, the cross. The and as a reconfirmation of our christianity, the cross. The egg decoration does not end on painting, there are many egg decoration does not end on painting, there are many techniques used and some of them are kept secret. techniques used and some of them are kept secret. Although nowadays there are a lot of new chemical Although nowadays there are a lot of new chemical paints, some prefer to do it in the traditional way, like paints, some prefer to do it in the traditional way, like using onion peels to get orange or red colors. Real using onion peels to get orange or red colors. Real leaves are sometimes applied to the egg’s surface and leaves are sometimes applied to the egg’s surface and after the painting they are removed, leaving a natural after the painting they are removed, leaving a natural shape on the egg.shape on the egg.

Materials Needed:Materials Needed:

Hard boiled eggs Hard boiled eggs Pencil for lightly drawing the design on the eggsPencil for lightly drawing the design on the eggs

called called chisitachisita Bee WaxBee Wax Coloured paint (red, yellow, black)Coloured paint (red, yellow, black) Soft cloth for wiping the eggsSoft cloth for wiping the eggs Basket with Easter grass Basket with Easter grass

The egg painting techniqueThe egg painting technique

In most places chicken eggs are paintedIn most places chicken eggs are painted.. Any egg, that is about to be painted,Any egg, that is about to be painted, is being boiled in yellow paint, then in red,is being boiled in yellow paint, then in red, black paint and so on. black paint and so on. TTakeake the chisita (the special tool like a pen) in one hand and in the the chisita (the special tool like a pen) in one hand and in the

other hand other hand youyou hold the egg. hold the egg. PPut the chisita in melted wax then start ut the chisita in melted wax then start painting the egg with wax .Then painting the egg with wax .Then youyou put the egg in red paint and put the egg in red paint and when when youyou pul pulll it out it out,, the egg is  already red, except the drawing the egg is  already red, except the drawing made with wax which is yellow . If the egg must be separated by a made with wax which is yellow . If the egg must be separated by a white line between its two areas, the line is also drawwhite line between its two areas, the line is also drawnn with wax, with wax, before it's being put in the red paint. before it's being put in the red paint.

After the egg sits in the red paint for 15 minutes, it's being pulled out After the egg sits in the red paint for 15 minutes, it's being pulled out and it's being dried. Now, and it's being dried. Now, you you write with chisita again, filling the red write with chisita again, filling the red spots with wax in order to remain redspots with wax in order to remain red..

The egg is being put in black wax, until the places that are not The egg is being put in black wax, until the places that are not written with wax are being filled. After several minutes, the rest of written with wax are being filled. After several minutes, the rest of the wax is being erased. Now the egg is being rubbed with butter the wax is being erased. Now the egg is being rubbed with butter and cleaned with a pand cleaned with a pieceiece of woolen material . The egg would have of woolen material . The egg would have three colothree colouurs. The many the colors. The many the colouurs, the harder it is to paint them. rs, the harder it is to paint them.