This is an original pysanka design that I created with inspiration from the Ukrainian song “Ой у Лузі” by Андрій Хливнюк, Kiyany —written in response to the war in Ukraine which sings about red kalyna and that Ukraine will not be defeated and we will lift her up again—triumphantly. This pysanka was written for Ukrainian newcomer to Canada, and gifted during the Christmas season, to give this person a reminder of home (sadly being heavily bombed at the time); while also a wish for Ukraine to be free and peaceful again. This pysanka was created on an emptied goose egg, using the traditional pysanka writing method. Materials used: beeswax, candle heated kistky of various sizes, and various pysanky dyes. I would like to note that a gradient technique was used on the kalyna leaves to bring a little more depth and depict the multicoloured nature of leaves when sun rays pass through the canopy of trees. I feel this also gives the design a unique and interesting look. Please also note that this pysanka was glazed prior to photography and thus has some glare. This diasporan pysanka is a mix between artistic style and traditional pysanka design. There are two bands on this pysanka; one which depicts the 8-pointed stars surrounded by nets, and the second band a rose and half-flower pattern surrounded by a dotted line. These two bands divide 4 panels of red kalyna berries and their leaves on a black background. The traditional 8-pointed stars (seen in an alternating yellow and blue pattern-chosen as the colours of the Ukrainian flag) also referred in traditional pysankarstvo symbolism as the “sun and stars motif”. This is among the more recognizable symbols in pysanky and represents life, fortune and growth. The nets surrounding these stars, represent Christ and the reference of “fishers of the people”. Other recognized symbolism of the net: it is thought to represent a talisman for capturing and repelling evil. Some say that it represents spider webs, which were traditionally thought to be stewards of nature/God who protected the home and trapped evil spirits in their webs/nets. (Source pysanky.info) The second band, made up of the rose (8 diamond star); represents love and caring. The additional half flowers that border these roses represent the rebirth of nature after winter; another wish for Ukraine to be reborn from winter and war on its soil. The 4 panels depicting kalyna: The kalyna was chosen through inspiration from the aforementioned Ukrainian ballad. Kalyna has always been a symbol in Ukrainian life, poetry, art, literature, embroidery and pysankarstvo. “The kalyna is a national symbol of Ukraine. It's associated with beauty, love, and resilience. Ukrainians believe that planting a kalyna outside their home brings good fortune and health. The red berries of the kalyna are also a symbol of Ukrainian independence and nationhood.  Just like Kozaks always seemed to find consolation in their ‘loyal horse’, Ukrainian women always turned to the kalyna tree in times of sorrow, grief or suffering. In Ukrainian songs and poems, kalyna trees were often the meeting place for dates and romantic reunions. Kalyna is also known as a symbol of eternal memory of the deceased. If there was ever a grave by the road or in the field, local girls felt obliged to plant kalyna trees around it. Such kalyna groves were considered sacred. It was forbidden to graze cattle, cut down bushes nearby. The desecration of a kalyna tree would automatically bring shame and disdain upon those who did so. In general, kalyna, planted on a grave was a symbol of love – conjugal, as well as brotherly, sisterly, parental etc. “ - Info source: www.kozatstvo.net.ua All of these symbols were considered in the creation of this pysanka design and used to create a wish, a prayer, and a gift for this Ukrainian who has been displaced from their home because of war. A wish for them, as well as their homeland of Ukraine, to have a long life, to be fortunate, and wealthy. For the nets to protect them from evil. The flowers, a wish for beauty, rebirth and health of a nation. The kalyna, the deepest symbol of them all—for Ukraine to rise again; while also recognizing the immense bloodshed and grief that we as a people and nation have had to weather for so many days, weeks, months, and years. The black background of the kalyna was not only chosen to let the bright red berries shine, but also an homage to the rich black soil of Ukraine. This black soil or “чорнозем”, has also given Ukraine the nickname “bread basket of Europe” for all of the grain and agricultural exports it provides to the world—the same soil which is seeing Ukrainian blood spilled on it each and every day. This pysanka is a wish for a better future for Ukraine, its people, and the world—while also recognizing the immense grief that has been experienced since the war began in February 2022. Colours of dyes and their meaning: Red: Perhaps the first recorded color, red initially symbolized blood.  It often appears on pysanky with nocturnal and heavenly symbols.  Over time, it acquired a positive connotation and began to represent love and joy, as well as marriage.  It is associated with the sun. Yellow: Symbolized the moon and the stars and, in farming, the harvest. Blue: Represented the sky or air, and good health Green: Represented spring, the resurrection of nature, and the riches of vegetation. Orange: We cannot assign meaning to the color orange, as the color wasn’t recognized by premodern Ukrainians.  They called it “hot yellow.” Black: Particularly sacred in the color spectrum. It is associated with belonging to the “other world,” but not in the negative sense. White: purity; with black: respect for the souls of the deceased
 Source: pysanky.info