“I can’t wait to go to the egg store tomorrow!” my son exclaimed as he glanced at his calendar before settling into bed.
“Mom, can we read Rechenka’s Eggs one more time before we go to the egg shop?” my daughter asked.
“Of course.” I replied. “Climb on up on your brother’s bed.”
The whole family cuddled together as we read one of our favorite Easter books.
Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco is about Babushka, a sweet old lady who lives on her own in a tiny house. She is well-known for her fine Ukrainian eggs (or pysanky) that she decorates. All through the winter, Babushka lovingly creates the eggs so that she can sell them at the Easter Festival in Moskva.
When Babushka is not decorating eggs, she loves to walk and enjoy the simple things. She can be heard whispering “A miracle!” when she sees caribou or calves being born. On one of Babushka’s walks, a goose fell from the sky, injured, so Babushka brought the goose home to nurse her back to health. Babushka named her Rechenka. Soon after Rechenka’s injury healed, the goose knocked over Babushka’s bowl of pysanky. Babushka was crushed and Rechenka felt horrible, but the following morning Rechenka had laid the most colorful, elaborately decorated Ukrainian egg (pysanka) – “A miracle!”
When I was in elementary school, I remember making Ukrainian eggs with my classmates. The process seemed arduous, but I was so proud of my egg. I wanted my kids to have the experience of making pysanky – the time was right.
As I searched for a place to purchase pysanky supplies on the Internet, I came across a small shop named “Ukranian Gift Shop”. The shop had been in business for over 70 years, but the family story that was lovingly showcased on the site gave me chills. It read:
When she was six years old, Marie Sokol moved with her family from her birthplace of Dobrochyn, in the Sokal region of Ukraine, to Yugoslavia. Eight years later at the age of fourteen Marie decided to follow her two brothers to America. She traveled alone by ship through Ellis Island to join her brother Paul in Pennsylvania. Marie stayed with Paul on his farm for a year before she ventured out once more by herself to Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, where her other brother Kirylo had settled.
“With a few dollars and a small suitcase containing all my possessions I set off for Canada. The train stopped in Minneapolis for the night at the Milwaukee Depot. I decided to go out for awhile. It was a cold night. I remember asking a policeman if he knew of any Ukrainians living in the city. He directed me to Seven Corners. As I walked up the street I could see the frozen Mississippi River glistening in the moonlight. It was very pretty. I came to five houses, all of them dark and quiet. The third house seemed like the right one, so I knocked. A young couple answered the door. ‘Do you speak Ukrainian?’ They answered ‘Tak, Tak’ and invited me in. They told me of a young woman who was living with them. To our surprise and amazement we discovered the woman staying with them was my second cousin! Was it not God’s will that led me to this house? I had no idea that in all of the United States she was living in Minneapolis. It was a miracle. We cried and laughed at our reunion. I did not go on to Canada. It was right for me to stay in Minneapolis.”
“I remember my first Easter in America and how homesick I felt for the traditions of the holidays which I once knew. I recalled my mother and grandmother decorating the colorful eggs and taking them to church to be blessed and decided that I could not let the Easter season pass without at least trying to make a pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg). So I made a writing tool (kistka) from the metal tip of a shoelace. I bought crepe paper at the drug store and made dyes by soaking the paper in boiling water. My first attempts were crude, but I did it, and made my first Pysanky in America!”
Marie opened the Ukrainian Gift Shop in 1947, and it is still run by the family today.
On the first day of spring, my family piled into the car, and off we went to the Ukrainian Gift Shop. When we arrived at the small shop, we were greeted warmly by Elko, Marie’s grandson. “Welcome! How can I help you?” he asked with a friendly grin.
“Hi! We would like to get supplies for making Ukrainian eggs.” I replied.
“I think I can help you with that.” Elko said.
As Elko went to gather supplies I noticed that both kids had found a special table – a large table filled with hundreds of beautiful pysanky.
“Look with your eyes – not with your hands.” I called out – I could feel my stomach tighten with nervousness.
Just then Elko returned with the supplies.
“Thank you so much.” I said. “You know, my children have been enamored with the book Rechenka’s Eggs, and that book is what brought us to you today. Do you know the book?”
“I sure do!” Elko responded. “And, I have a fun story to share with you about that book.”
“Really?” my husband and I replied at the same time as the kids scooted over to listen.
Elko continued, “Back when George Bush – the second one – was president, he invited Patricia Polacco to the White House Easter brunch because of the book Rechenka’s Eggs. Patricia called my mother and asked her if she would decorate a large ostrich egg to gift to the White House. My mother agreed. But, she not only decorated the ostrich egg, she also crafted 12 goose eggs for the 12 cabinet members and a chicken egg for the president and the first lady – it was quite an honor for her.”
“Wow! Thank you for sharing your story with us – what a gift. Now we’ll think of it every time we read Rechenka’s Eggs at Easter time.” I said.
We continued to talk for the next hour as my family explored the beautiful pysanky. Elko showed us the traditional eggs, explained the symbolization behind some of the designs, and packaged up a few eggs that we chose to purchase.
As we left, we all felt thankful for the experience we had just had – the perfect way to begin our own journey with crafting pysanky.
On the following Saturday, my family boiled water to make the egg dye, set out the tools we would need, and we sat down to begin.
We drew our designs on room-temperature eggs with pencil, warmed up the head of the kistka (tool used to heat wax and write on an egg) in the flame of a candle…
…filled the cup of the kistka with bees wax, and melted the wax in the flame.
The challenge began as we traced our pencil lines with melted beeswax.
We dipped our eggs in dye…
…applied more beeswax, and dyed the eggs again.
We continued this process until our designs were completed.
To reveal the bright, beautiful colors beneath the wax, we held the egg to the side of the flame, melted the wax, and wiped it away.
Within minutes – the true colors of the egg were revealed – so vibrant and beautiful.
Easter weekend is upon us, and as my family reflects on the gift of Jesus’s resurrection, we will also enjoy our new pysanky decorations and remember the gift of our Ukrainian Gift Shop experience.
Seeing the expertly crafted pysanky, learning about the pysanky designs, and listening to Elko’s stories were gifts – gifts that led to what I hope will be an annual tradition of decorating pysanky in our own home.
I imagine that if Babushka were here, I’d hear her whispering “A miracle!”
What a great story, I learned something new about Ukrainian traditions today!
So nice to see you back again, Ben! Thanks so much for your kind words, and I’m happy you were able to learn something new. The pysanky are amazing. When we stepped into the Ukrainian Gift Shop, my whole family was caught wide-eyed as we spotted the beautiful, intricately decorated eggs. Definitely a treat to the eyes.
Thanks again for reading and taking the time to comment.
Wow, I never knew anything about this tradition. Stunning!
Thanks, Denzil! The eggs in the shop that we visited were literally jaw-dropping. The patterns were so intricate and detailed. I can’t imagine how long the dyeing process took. Our simpler eggs took three hours to complete just one egg. But, it’s worth the time in the end!
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment.
I absolutely love this. What a story or rather- what stories! I’d never heard of this Ukrainian tradition before nor the book. What a lovely thing to do with your family every year.
Thank you so very much for your kind words, Hayley. Xx Aren’t the eggs amazing? The eyes of my children were the size of saucers when we walked into the shop. You may want to check out the book – your daughter might fall in love with it – just as we have (yes, I have too 🙂 ). Thanks again, Hayley!
My Grandfather was Ukrainian, and we had proper eggs, but nothing like this. Honestly, thank you for sharing this. Made me tear up again. <3
Lorna, what a special comment to come across. Thank you so much for taking the time read and comment. If you ever find yourself in Minnesota, you’ll have to take a trip to the Ukrainian Gift Shop, the owners are special people, and their stories are amazing. I know you’d appreciate it.
Thanks again for your kind words! Xx
I remember my gran dying eggs – not quite on this level and def not Ukrainian, but this has brought back some lovely memories.
I’m so happy that you were able to reminisce a little today, Claire. Easter is a special time. We’ve always dyed eggs here, but Ukrainian eggs is a whole new challenge – a challenge we’re enjoying.
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment.
Beautiful! What a lovely family tradition. I have a childhood horror story involving my mom’s treasured eggs, a frisky cat, and a lot of tears, so we buy a couple of the wooden eggs each year. But wow, yours are so vibrant! Thanks for sharing!
Oh no, Rebecca! I can just imagine how that went down. I don’t blame you for buying some wooden eggs.
When I was about 12-years old I decorated a pysanka in elementary school. It lasted a few years before it rolled off of the top of the piano where it had been displayed. I was lucky it lasted that long. I’m sure we will have a few broken eggs in our future too.
So nice to hear from you again, Rebecca! Thanks so much for your kind compliment.
Wow when the grandchildren were explaining
How they did there eggs I was in aw of how
This was done 🤔 they are beautiful ! Maybe you can teach the grandparents how to make them some day 😊
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story !
Grandma Burton
We would love to do that! Happy Easter 🙂
I love this!! What a fun tradition!
Thanks, Katie! We’ve been having so much fun with the Ukrainian eggs. ❤️
I purchased this book for my youngest Daughter’s Easter basket when she was about 8 years old. She still has it and reads it to my Grandson, Benjamin. He loves the goose! How I wish that I lived near Minnesota, just so that I could visit the Ukrainian Gift Shop. What a fascinating family trip. It is magnificent that you are making these beautiful eggs. My Gram made eggs similar to these when I was a child, I just remember that the process was time consuming and seemed difficult. A friend of Grams had taught her the art when they were young Mothers. Thank-you so much for sharing this lovely post. Happy Easter to your family! P.S. The black and white photo is absolutely beautiful, love how you brought the focus onto the basket and colorful eggs…fantabulous!
Ellen, thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I’m so happy that this post resulted in your sweet memories, and I very much enjoyed reading your stories. It’s good to hear that others have found Reshenka’s Eggs a book to pass down through the generations. I know we will do the same. Wishing you a Happy Easter, Ellen.🐰
Erin, these are sooo beautiful! I love that you have managed to weave fantastic crafts in with stories, learning about the Ukraine and celebrating Easter! <3 <3
We made something similar at primary school, but they were never that amazing or intricate! We'd just drip wax onto the eggs and dye them!!
My family's Easter tradition, was mum drawing all our faces onto eggs, then we'd eat dippy eggs and soldiers…but we'd each eat our own face. I used to eat mine upside down, so I wouldn't ruin my egg-face when I open the egg with a spoon!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful stories, Josy! I used to do something similar with my chocolate bunnies on Easter. I’d eat them from the bottom up because I hated to think that they wouldn’t have ears to hear with, but the face was always last for me. 🙂
Also, thanks so much for your kind compliment! We’ve been having so much fun decorating them. I’m hoping that it turns into an annual tradition. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment!
I hope it becomes a annual tradition too! You’ll all become such experts!!
This is a wonderful post Erin, as it shows another side of how this weekend is celebrated and you passed this knowledge onto your children. Awesome and I am typing this with a big grin on my face 🙂
I am so happy you enjoyed this article, Suzanne, and thank you for your kind words ! I almost have my email ready for you – hopefully tomorrow. 🙂
Shoot, no wonder you were keen to go egg shopping. So many rich traditions and ways of celebrating its one aspect I wish our flipping news and media would focus on these to bring everyone together across the globe. Amazing post and thoroughly enjoyed it x
Wow, thank you for your wonderful comment, Gary! You are right – the media needs to focus on things that can pull people together instead of pushing them apart. I’m so happy you enjoyed this. Thanks so much for stopping by!
How beautiful Erin and an absolutely lovely informative post as well…such awesome patterns on the eggs 🙂 A beautiful Easter tradition thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you for you sweet comment, Carol! We sure had a wonderful experience – it was easy to write about. We look forward to decorating the eggs again next year. Thank so much for taking the time to read and comment today. Happy Easter!
What a beautiful story Erin. When we were in Germany we seen lots of gorgeous decorated eggs but I don’t they were pysanky.
The process requires much patience I would imagine but the result is amazing! I bet your kids throughly enjoyed making them. It would be nice to keep the tradition going! Beautiful!
Okay, now you have piqued my interest about the decorated eggs in Germany – I’m going to have to Google that to see what I can come up with.
Yes, we all had a wonderful time decorating the eggs – the kids included. I love traditions, and I’m fairly confident that this one will last.
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Gloria!
I have had some fun making making eggs like these with a neighbor. Fun, challenging and rewarding! Yours are beautiful!! What a great place, I will have to check that out and I love the book as well. Will have to get that for the grandkids!
Thanks, Sheila! Yes, the grandkids would love the book. Maybe pysanky are in your future too. Your grandkids would sure enjoy it in a few years. The owners at the Ukrainian Gift Shop are delightful. I know you’d enjoy the trip. Thanks so much for your comment!
Oh my Gosh^^, these are amazing and what a wonderful story.Good job all of you <3
Thank you for all of the time you have spent reading and commenting today. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed this story. It was a pretty exciting experience all around. We can’t wait to color the eggs again next year!
I can imagine^^