The Ukrainian tradition of decorated Easter eggs--Pysanka (pis'-ahn-kah, pl. pysanky)--dates back to ancient times when Ukrainians worshipped the all-important, life-giving sun god, Dazbog.
As the source of all life, Dazbog was considered one of the main deities in the Slavic pantheon. Dazbog's favorite creations were birds--they were the only creatures who could fly high enough to be near him. Therefore, Ukrainians also worshipped birds.
But because humans couldn't catch the birds, they took the eggs, instead. The eggs were considered magical objects with special powers. They are a source of life and, as such, were honored during rite-of-Spring festivals celebrating the rebirth of the earth.
Pysanky, eggs decorated with symbols and colors from nature, were benevolent talismans that became an integral part of the spring rituals.
To this day, the Hutsuls--Ukrainians who live in the Carpathian Mountains of Western Ukraine--believe that the fate of the world depends on the pysanka. As long as the egg decorating custom continues, the world will exist. If, for any reason, this custom is abandoned, evil will overrun the world.
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