The art of the decorated egg, or the Pysanka, dates back to pagan times, around 4,000 B.C.
The Hutsuls, Ukrainians who live in the Carpathian Mountains of Western Ukraine, believe that the fate of the world depends upon the Pysanka. As long as the egg decorating custom continues, the world will exist.
A Ukrainian superstition insists that girls should never give their boyfriends Pysanky that have no design on the top and bottom of the egg; the baldness on either end signifies that the boyfriend will soon lose his hair.
Diane Axent is a first generation Canadian. Her late father, Alec Axent, immigrated from the Ukraine with his parents, Harry and Vaseline Axentchuk, brother George Axent and sister Eleanor (Kuzminsky), and settled into Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
In the tradition of her father’s homeland, she has been teaching classes since the 70’s; having made unique patterns on the surfaces of over a thousand raw eggs.
All ages come to learn the ancient art of painting on eggs when Diane annually sets up her dining room table with bees wax, candles, kistka tools, patterns, dyes and raw eggs. Hers is a popular drop-in home before Easter; a gathering place to find and express your unique creative side in the fellowship of goodwill, caring and making new friends.
Eggs are magical objects, a source of life to Ukrainian culture; gifts that tell a story and give a message with color and design.
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