Pysanky: Ukraine's centuries-old easter egg tradition

Long before pysanky were decorative, they formed a visual vocabulary tied to nature and spirituality.

Central to the tradition are recurring motifs: the eight-pointed star, ruzha, symbolizing the sun god, Dazhboh; the broken cross or windmill, svarha, representing the god of sun, sky, and thunder; and the triangle, first connected to raked fields and later associated with the Holy Trinity.

Beyond that, the decorations use a combination of geometric, animal, or floral symbols depending on the region and period they were made.

Illustration: Daria Filippova / The Kyiv Independent