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The Ukranian-Americans in Florida files include documents and slides illustrating traditional arts such as pysanky (egg-decorating) and embroidery.
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 Pysansky
Pysanky means "things that are written upon" and is a form of egg decoration that involves dying with wax. The design is made by dipping a pin or kistka (a small writing instrument) in wax and etching designs on the egg. After being made, the eggs are taken to church on Easter Sunday to be blessed by a priest and are then given away as gifts. Their recipients display them in a prominent location in their homes. The egg itself is an ancient symbol of rebirth and new life that took on an additional symbolism associated with Easter after the introduction of Christianity to the Ukrane.
  
 Embroidery
In traditional Ukranian culture, girls learn the art of embroidery at an early age, creating such items for their wedding chest as handkerchiefs and towels.  Other uses for embroidery include covering religious icons as well as the faces of the deceased. As with other cultural groups, regional identity is communicated through folk costume. The embroidery style embellishing headwear, shirts and other clothing items serves to identify the wearer's home village. There are several basic stitching methods including zavolikamia (thread drawn horizontally), nyzynka (thread drawn vertically) and intricate cross-stitch.
Visit the Special Collections Department of the UCF Library for Central Florida Folklife Materials:
(General Information | Inventory)
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