Silent Witness: Expressions of Women's Faith

Pysanky

For most of Christian history, most women could neither read nor write. They managed to pass along recipes, formulas for making beer and cheese, the methods for growing herbs and vegetables, instructions for raising chickens and patterns for needlework and sewing. But their thoughts about God, Christ, the Holy Mother, salvation or forgiveness? They had no words. The tools necessary to communicate philosophical and religious concepts were denied to women.

An example comes to mind from the movie Yentil, in which Barbara Streisand played a young Jewish woman from Eastern Europe. When a peddler came to their village, he had newspapers and religious books for men, picture books for women and children.

There were exceptions to the rule, of course. In the movie, Yentil herself was the exception. Historically, there were women of the nobility and women with means of their own who were highly educated. We know about St. Teresa and St. Catherine and Mechtilde and Julian and others. But they were the rare exceptions.

Consequently, our religious histories are histories of male experience. Our traditions are primarily the traditions of men. Christian music, sculptures, paintings, frescos until very recently reflect the male perspective. Architecture, carved ornament, stained glass windows, ceramic vessels – nearly every enduring art form was produced exclusively by men.

Women had a very limited range of expression permitted to them: almost exclusively textiles.

(The History of Ukrainian Easter Eggs, from Pysanka.com)

The tradition of creating PYSANKY began thousands of years ago, dating back to the Neolithic Era. Eggs were important food sources and may have been used as mystical objects representing tthe cycle of life. Decorating eggs probably developed as means of exerting mystical control over wild fowl. Similar to cave paintings, drawing images of animals image on eggs might have ensured the success of the hunt. Drawing plants or other objects brought that object into reach. It might also have been a way of worshipping and harboring the spirit or essence of the animal or object that was drawn.

Ancient designs, predominantly white, brown, and black, are called TRYPILLIAN, and are also found on pre-historic pottery. Similar designs link the eggs to ancient artifacts found in many different parts of the world.
As skills increased and tools became more advanced, the designs on the eggs grew more detailed. More colors developed as cultivated plants produced more dyes. Christianity did not penetrate to the Ukraine until the end of the first millennium. Christian meanings were superimposed on the existing symbolism. Early symbols retained their meanings, and new symbols developed with the development of agriculture and husbandry. For example, the star that once symbolized the pagan god Altar, now stands for Christ and love; the cross stood for the four corners of the world now represents Christ's passion.

Stag = successful hunt

Wheat = good harvest

Wealth = sheep, horses, or reindeer.

PYSANKY were given at births, engagements, weddings, sickness, any time that you would wish well for someone.