Blog Post Roundup: LENT & EASTER

photo source

Book Lists For Lent -
"Dig In...to Lent...With Books" - go here
"The Legend of the Cross" - go here 
"Learning to Wait With Little Chick" - go here
"A Little Book Stack for Lent/Holy Week" - go here

Holy Week -
"Willows, Palms, Crosses, and Donkeys for Holy Week" - go here 
"Holy Week: The Miracles of Christ" - go here
"Holy Week: Journey to Pascha" - go here
"Quiet Activities for Holy Friday and Saturday" - go here

Getting Ready For Easter/Pascha
"Why Eggs for Easter?" - go here
"Bright Colors in my Kitchen" - go here
"Pysanka, A Ukranian Celebration of Life" - go here
"Russian Pascha Treats for Bright Week" - go here
"Egg Crafts and Traditions for Easter" - go here
"Book Themed Easter Baskets (They're Sugar Free!)" - go here
"The Feast of Feasts, Holy Day of Holy Days" - go here
"Bright Week Treasures With My Grandson" - go here

Bright Colors in My Kitchen...Easter is Coming

So let us rediscover Lent. A journey, a pilgrimage! Yet, as we begin it, as we make the first step into the “bright sadness” of Lent, we see—far, far away—the destination. It is the joy of Easter, it is the entrance into the glory of the Kingdom. And it is this vision, the foretaste of Easter, that makes Lent’s sadness bright and our Lenten effort a “spiritual spring.” The night may be dark and long, but all along the way a mysterious and radiant dawn seems to shine on the horizon. 

–Alexander Schmemann

Orthodox Lent is almost over: these are the last few days until Holy Week begins and then...Pascha!  

My finds from Easter clearance sales!
This year Orthodox Easter and Western Easter are quite far apart - so if you've already
celebrated Easter, you can store my book recommendations (below) away for next year.

Lots of wonderful colors have been appearing in my kitchen this last week: flowers from my springtime walks, ingredients and teacups for some Lenten refreshments, and gifts for Pascha on my kitchen table, being gathered and ready to wrap...

St. Euphrosynos the Cook (read his story here) on my
windowsill with some Rock Rose Orchid flowers
gathered on a walk along the horse trail behind my house.

My favorite chilled drink for Lent: Sparkling
water with lemon, ginger, and cranberries -
sweetened with a little Stevia.

My favorite dairy-free hot drink for Lent: Vanilla Chai
tea with coconut milk and Stevia.

My Pascha cards arrived in the mail, along with two books that will be
paired with brightly wrapped German chocolates
for my sweet godchildren!

I adore the colorful illustrations in both of these books.  The first is a Pennsylvania Dutch story The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous, published in 1950...

One Easter morning, after seeing the Easter Rabbit, Katy and Carl went on an egg hunt in Grandmom's garden and through her house... 

Katy couldn't find anything until she went up to the attic. And there she discovered a very special set of eggs... Grandmom had painted them when she was a little girl. And now, she hung them from the branches of a tiny tree -- an Egg Tree! 

So began a very special Easter tradition.

I do an Egg Tree for Pascha every year! (more photos here)

Now here are some special eggs...in the story, Nina's Treasures, another cute book (1990), this one showcasing Ukrainian egg decorating (Pysanky): 

Although winter threatens starvation, old Katerina gives her hen ("Nina") her precious flower seeds, a gift that surprisingly results in some spectacular eggs for trading, in a folktale about the springtime ritual of egg decorating. 

"Katerina was so surprised at what she saw that she almost dropped
the poor hen. There in the nest were the most beautiful eggs. Each
was different from the other, and each looked like a miniature flower
garden laid out in gorgeous patterns of colors and borders."

Note at the end of the book: Many of the colors and patterns in this book are adapted from the work of Maria Primachenko, a peasant woman from Kiev whose briliant folk art was praised by Pablo Picasso.

Coming next on my blog:  Russia! I'll be observing Holy Week, but as I am able, I'll be working on posting some beautifully illustrated Russian books of Saints and Bible stories, photos from my trip to St. Petersburg, and some fairy tale books I brought back. 

Egg Crafts and Traditions For Easter

Because new life emerges from an egg when a chick hatches, eggs  have long been associated with Easter and are a symbol of the Resurrection. As an egg lays dormant, it contains a new life sealed within it, just as Christ's body was resurrected to new life from the sealed tomb.

To go along with some beautiful Easter picture books about eggs, I found several fun egg crafts to share with you - these are perfect to try with your children over spring break, when they are home and have time to be creative with you.

This folktale describes the origin of pysanky, the process of decorating Easter eggs with intricate, colorful patterns. Katrusya and her grandfather are walking in freshly fallen snow when they discover a flock of tiny golden birds that has been overcome by the sudden cold. They rescue as many as possible from the drifts and stuff them inside their coats, then hurry back to the village for assistance. Soon everyone rushes out to help, and the priest opens the church to shelter the animals and preaches to his congregation that with every chirp the birds worship God with perfect faith. Shortly before spring arrives, the feathered creatures clamor to be released, saddening the villagers, who have grown to love them. Easter comes, and Katrusya and the other children find gorgeous, brilliantly colored eggs in the grass. When the people wonder at their source, the priest points to the golden birds, now perched above, and explains that these eggs are their Easter gifts. As each one is different and precious, he says, so is every living creature in God's eyes.

"Pysanky" is an Easter folk art craft that I have attempted over the years during Lent (post and book recommendations here). There are lots of books available about this ancient Ukrainian folk art, and you can search the Internet to find how-to videos and classes in your area.

Sound too ambitious? You can make an easier version with your kids at home - wax resits on paper.  You just need food coloring, paper, crayons, and an iron!

source

Here's another version - a pastel resist paper egg (you need paper, pencil, oil pastels, and tempera paints).

source

Take a look at these gorgeous (and easy, mess free) silk dyed Easter Eggs? My daughter and I can't wait to make these!

source and tutorial

How about baking Italian Easter Egg Bread?

source and recipe

You could try the Greek Easter Bread Version:

source and recipe (Food Network)

In Orthodox Churches, Easter (May 5, because our calendar is different), or "Pascha" eggs will be red, symbolic of the blood of Christ ...

 ©iStockphoto.com/ vaskoni

Tradition relates that in Italy Mary Magdalene visited Emperor Tiberius and proclaimed to him Christ’s Resurrection. She gave him a red egg as a symbol of the Resurrection, a symbol of new life with the words: “Christ is Risen!”  Thanks to Mary Magdalene the custom to give each other paschal eggs on the day of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ spread among Christians over all the world. [source]

For all my readers who follow the Western calendar, have a blessed Holy Week and Easter. 

PYSANKA: A UKRAINIAN CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Have you ever read Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Palacco?  It's a heart-warming story featuring a goose and some beautiful Ukrainian "Pysanky" eggs.  

I've got some other picture book recommendations that feature these special eggs, but first I thought I'd share some information about the symbolism and history behind this art.

I learned a lot about it last weekend when I attended a Lenten Pysanka workshop. The instructor, Adriana, brought a whole basket of her little masterpieces to show us.  It was hard to believe we were about to attempt to paint some ourselves!  Here's what we learned...

"At one time, the egg was associated with pagan rituals and superstitions, symbolizing the release of the earth from the shackles of winter into spring; with its promise of new hope, new life, health and prosperity. 

In 988 AD when Ukraine accepted Christianity, the decorating of eggs took on a deep religious meaning. The PYSANKA commemorated the Resurrection of Christ, and a promise of eternal life. The pagan superstitions were replaced by religious beliefs and legends."

The geometric motifs are the same as found in many forms of primitive art, but their use in PYSANKY gives them specific names and symbolic meanings. Ribbons and belts that encircle the egg with no beginning or end symbolize eternity. Triangles symbolize trios, such as the circle of life of birth, life, death; the Holy Trinity, and the natural elements of fire, air, and water. Stars once symbolized the pagan gods, and now stand for life, growth and good fortune. The cross appears in many forms and symbolizes the four corners of the world, and Christianity."

[Go to Adriana's website for more information here.]

Here's a photo of my egg, just after it's been plunged down into the blue dye.  The next step will be to expose the egg to a heat source and rub off the wax...

...and here's the finished product!

MY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Easter Eggs for Anya, by Virginia Kroll, illustrations by Sally Wern Comport.  This sweet story follows Anya as she prays for her family's farm, which is struggling since her father is away at war. She is upset after a fox attacks a goose that has been guarding its nest, as suddenly the nest of goose eggs is left abandoned and cold.  But then she realizes that she will at least have some eggs to decorate as Pysanky for Easter.  You'll be surprised when she wakes up on Easter morning to some new beginnings! (ages 4-8)

Books about Pysanky:
Rechenka's Eggs, written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco.

The Birds' Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story, by Eric A. Kimmel. Pictures by Katya Krenina.

Nina's Treasures, by Stefan Czernecki, illustrated by Timothy Rhodes. (My review found here)

WHY EGGS FOR EASTER?

Because new life emerges from an egg when the chick hatches out, eggs have long been used as a symbol for the start of new life.  And Christians further view it as a symbol of the Resurrection - as it lays dormant, it contains a new life sealed within it, just as Christ's body was resurrected to new life from the sealed tomb.

Another reason that eggs are given as gifts at Easter comes from an ancient Eastern Orthodox tradition:  after the Ascension of Jesus, Mary Magdalene went to the Emperor of Rome and greeted him with the words, "Christ has risen," whereupon he pointed to an egg on his table and stated, "Christ has no more risen than that egg is red." After making this statement it is said the egg immediately turned blood red.  To this day, after our Easter - or Pascha - service, we Orthodox Christians receive hard-boiled eggs that have been dyed red.  We crack them against each other's as we proclaim, "Christ is Risen!"

"Pysanky" are Ukrainian Easter eggs that have been decorated using a wax-resist method with dyes - the symbolic folk designs are "written on" the eggs with beeswax by using a stylus (kystka).  This method is used in many eastern European countries, not just the Ukraine.  Many women like to make Pysanky during Lent (or Holy Week) to be given away at Easter.  Traditionally, they were made at night, when the children were asleep.

PICTURE BOOKS:
Here are some great books you won't want to miss about Pysanky Eggs...and at the end of this post, I'll share some links, so you and your children can make your own.  I think it's a great Lenten activity - it teaches patience and you'll have some beautiful eggs for your basket or to give as gifts!

RECHENKA'S EGGS by Patricia Polacco. An old woman named Babushka always wins first prize in the Easter festival for her exquisitely painted Ukrainian eggs. When she finds a wounded goose outside her house, Babushka takes her in, cares for her until she is strong again, and names her Rechenka. The goose lays an egg each morning for the old woman, but as she begins to heal, she flies around, knocking over Babushka's jars of colored paints and breaking all her Easter eggs. Babushka is miserable, until Rechenka miraculously lays brilliantly colored eggs; the old woman wins first prize once more... Intricate designs and opulent colors shade every page, right down to the onion-shaped domes and peasants' festival garments. -Publisher's Weekly (Ages 4-8)

THE MAGIC BABUSHKA by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes. Nadia longs to make the intricately decorated eggs called Pysanky but the fine detail work is too much for her weak eyes. An encounter with the magical butterfly woman, Baba Babochka, results in the young woman being given a magical kerchief, or babushka, with the warning that she reveal her gift to no one. With it, she is able to transform plain white eggs into elaborately decorated ones that gain the attention of the Tsarina, and she is summoned to the palace to produce Pysanky on demand. Once again, Baba Babochka comes to the rescue, and Nadia is finally able to make beautiful eggs on her own. The full-page watercolor-and-gouache illustrations suggest the colors and designs of pysanky in the bright red, blue, and orange the artist uses in her illustrations and in the detailed border designs. -Library School Journal. (grades 1-4)

NINA'S TREASURES by Stefan Czernecki, illustrated by Timothy Rhodes. A hen named Nina provides eggs for "a little grandmother" named Katerina, who trades the eggs and flowers from her garden for their daily needs. An unusually severe winter finds the pair virtually without food, and Katerina feeds Nina "her precious flower seeds for the spring planting." With the advent of spring, their plight is relieved when Nina--full of flower seeds--lays some spectacularly beautiful eggs. Katerina trades them to replenish her cupboards, and the old woman and Nina are happy and comfortable "the rest of their days." Recalling the resourceful hen, the village grandmothers decorate eggs each spring. -Publisher's Weekly.   (Ages 4-8.)

THE BIRDS' GIFT, A UKRANIAN EASTER STORY, retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Katya Krenina. This folktale describes the origin of pysanky, the process of decorating Easter eggs with intricate, colorful patterns. Katrusya and her grandfather are walking in freshly fallen snow when they discover a flock of tiny golden birds that has been overcome by the sudden cold. They rescue as many as possible from the drifts and stuff them inside their coats, then hurry back to the village for assistance. Soon everyone rushes out to help, and the priest opens the church to shelter the animals and preaches to his congregation that with every chirp the birds worship God with perfect faith. Shortly before spring arrives, the feathered creatures clamor to be released, saddening the villagers, who have grown to love them. Easter comes, and Katrusya and the other children find gorgeous, brilliantly colored eggs in the grass. When the people wonder at their source, the priest points to the golden birds, now perched above, and explains that these eggs are their Easter gifts. As each one is different and precious, he says, so is every living creature in God's eyes. -School Library Journal. (Ages 4-8)


I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO!

MAKE YOUR OWN PYSANKY EGGS:
Make paper Pysanky Egg decorations from Orthodox Christian Craft Supply.

Order this DVD from Archangel Books on how to decorate Pysanky Eggs. Step-by-step for beginners.

Or, you can learn from this website: LEARNPYSANKY.COM

You can order Pysanky kits from Chinaberry or HearthSong, two of my favorite online sites for gifts, books, and toys.