Painting and beating eggs

Starting the Easter celebration with an egg (pysanka) is a custom that has been in Ukraine since ancient times, as it symbolised the germ of a new life. People paint the shell of an egg in bright colours by using wax paints, with each colour signifying a different meaning (red is the joy of life; yellow is sunlight; blue is for health). After receiving their colourful adornments, they are then considered sacred, together with the Kulich (Easter cake) in the church. Later at home, everyone eats national holiday dishes – holodets (frozen pork broth), homemade sausages and more. Children usually play the game called beats; they knock each other’s egg. Whoever’s egg breaks is the loser.