The Ukrainian traditional method of decorating eggs involves the use of hot wax and very bright colors, and the eggs are intended as real works of art – not eaten or used in 'egg battles' like their Latvian counterparts.
"In Ukraine, there are songs that are sung only on Easter. Today we also teach them to the Ukrainians themselves, because they know that there are these spring songs, but many do not know that there are songs only for Easter," musician Darya Lileiko tld Latvian Television.
In Ukraine, eggs are dyed both traditionally, as here, and in a special technique that even has its own label. "In Ukrainian, pisanka comes from the word pisati, which means to write by hand, with a writing instrument, but in this case it means to draw. There is egg coloring and egg marking. That is the most popular way. Every region has its own ornament," says Ukrainian Volodymyr Ivanitskyi.
Each region of Ukraine has its own traditions of how an egg is painted. "We have wax, we heat it and with a special brush we paint the shell," says Anastasia, Kristina's mother.
Every pattern, every ornament that big or small hands leave on the shell of an egg with hot wax is also a symbol or a message. "We paint eggs in the Ukrainian folk tradition in honor of Easter. For happiness, love, health. For various things," explains Ukrainian Maria.
On the other hand, little Polina and her mother Hanna paint the egg in the color of the sun. "We hope that in the end, peace and the sun will come. And Latvia will have a sunny spring and a hot summer. We really want a hot summer!" says Hanna.
Latvians and Ukrainians sit at the table. War refugees and those born in Riga. More than anything, they want peace – at Easter, at the summer solstice, and always. Even here the war is as relevant. Therefore, the collection of donations for the drone for the 148th brigade in Ukraine continues in parallel with the egg decorating.
