Easter eggs

1 ak classRaseiniai Viktoras Petkus basic school

Lithuania

Natural DyesTraditionally, dyes were derived from plants: yellow was obtained using dried birch leaves, yellow green - using birch leaves from young shoots, light brown - using onion peels, and grey - using oak bark. A variety of other light colors were obtained from dried flowers. Soaking and boiling a mixture of alder bark and rust produced a black dye. The colors were strengthened by adding vinegar or alum to the dyes. Table salt in the dye made colors less likely to rub off.

Eggs dyeing with onion skins and leaves of grass.Grass leaves are placed on the eggs. Later the eggs need to wrapped a skin of onions. They are placed in a sock and then boiled.

Eggs with stickers

Eggs are boiling in colored water. Stickers are affix to eggs.

Emilija and her parents painted Easter eggs

Scratch-Carve Method For Decorating EggsIn Lithuania, two methods for decorating eggs were commonly used. One was based on producing designs on dyed eggs by scratching or carving the surface of the shell. This is a very simple method, requiring very simple tools - any sharp pointy tool can be employed. Short, straight, and white scratch lines are the basic elements of design for this method.

Austėja T. and her parents painted Easter eggs

Wax-Resist Method For Decorating Eggs

Creating patterns with wax is the second method commonly used by Lithuanians for decorating eggs. Hot wax is applied with a pin, a small nail, a fishbone or a wooden splinter. The basic elements for creating decorative patterns with this method are dots and "tailed" dots. A dot is produced by dipping the tip of your tool into hot wax and setting it momentarily on the egg's surface. A "tailed" dot results when the tool is moved on the egg's surface.

After patterning the egg with wax, the egg is dyed in a solution that is cooler than the melting temperature of the wax. After dyeing, the wax is removed by heating the egg in an oven, rolling it on a hot towel, or any number of other ways. The removed wax reveals a white pattern. Multi-colored patterns can be obtained by repeated cycles of wax application and dyeing.

Austėja K. and her parents painted Easter eggs

Liepa and her parents painted Easter eggs

Pupils painted Easter eggs