Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LEGENDS OF THE UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS
OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF EASTER EGGS OF THE UKRAINE, THE PYSANKA AND
THE KRASHANKA ARE THE MOST WIDELY KNOWN. KRASHANKA IS FROM THE WORD
KRASKA WHICH MEANS COLOR. THE KRASHANKA IS A HARD-BOILED EGG WHICH
IS DYED A SOLID COLOR, AND MAY BE EATEN. THE PYSANKA STEMS FROM
THE VERB PYSATY, WHICH MEANS TO WRITE, AS THE DESIGNS ARE ACTUALLY
WRITTEN ON THE EGG, WHICH IS DYED IN SEVERAL COLORS. BUT UNLIKE
THE KRASHANKA THE PYSANKY ARE RAW AND NOT EATEN. IF A WOMAN IS
CHILDLESS AND DESIRES A CHILD. SHE WOULD BE GIVEN AN EGG DECORATED
WITH A CHICKEN, THE SIGN OF A FERTILE CREATURE, AND HOPEFULLY HER
FAMILY WOULD GROW. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE MAN'S FAULT AFTER
THAT. TO HELP THE MAN HE WAS GIVEN AN EGG WITH A PATTERN OF
ROOSTERS. TO HELP OLDER MEN, WHO WERE GOING DOWN HILL WHEN IT
CAME TO THEIR VIGOR, THEY
WERE GIVEN AN EGG DECORATED WITH OAK LEAVES.
AS CHRISTIANITY CAME TO THE UKRAINE SO DID SOME MORE LEGENDS.
THE HUTZELS FROM WESTERN UKRAINE TELL A STORY THAT THE VIRGIN
MARY FILLED HER APRON WITH EGGS, AND WHEN SHE APPEARED BEFORE
PONTIUS PILATE TO PLEAD FOR HER SON, SHE DROPPED TO HER KNEES AND
THE EGGS ROLLED OUT OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WORLD UNTIL THEY WERE
DISTRIBUTED AMONG ALL NATIONS. IN ANOTHER STORY, MARY IS SAID TO
HAVE FILLED A BASKET WITH EGGS WHICH SHE CARRIED TO THE SOLDIERS
SITTING AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. THERE SHE LEFT IT. AFTER A
TIME, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST FLOWED DOWN, STAINING THE EGGS WITH
THEIR CHARACTERISTIC COLOR. THE UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS ALSO
ANSWER THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. AS LONG AS THE PYSANKY TRADITION
REMAINS, AND EGGS CONTINUE TO BE DECORATED, THE WORLD WILL EXIST.
SHOULD THE CUSTOM CEASE, EVIL WILL ENCOMPASS AND DESTROY THE WORLD.
THIS IS BECAUSE AN ANCIENT, VICIOUS CREATURE IS HEAVILY CHAINED
AGAINST A HUGE CLIFF AND EACH YEAR SERVANTS OF THE CREATURE GO OUT
ABOUT THE WORLD AND TAKE COUNT HOW MANY PYSANKY ARE DECORATED IN
THE WORLD. WHEN THERE ARE FEW PYSANKY THE CREATURE'S CHAINS LOOSEN
AND EVIL BEGINS TO FLOW THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SHOULD THE SERVANTS
FIND THE CUSTOM OF DECORATING EGGS BEING PRACTICED WIDELY THEN THE
CHAINS OF THE MONSTER TIGHTEN, ALLOWING LOVE TO CONQUER EVIL.
PEASANTS PLACED KRASHANKA SHELLS IN THE THATCHED ROOFS OF THEIR
HOMES AND UNDER HAY MOUNDS TO TURN AWAY HIGH WINDS. BEEKEEPERS
PUT THEM UNDER HIVES FOR A GOOD SUPPLY OF HONEY. A KRASHANKA,
BLESSED ON EASTER EVE, WAS SUSPENDED ON A STRING FROM THE NECK
OF AN ILL PERSON, OR TOUCHED TO INFECTED AREAS ON PERSONS SUFFERING
FROM BLOOD POISONING TO EFFECT A CURE.
Submitter comment: FERTILITY SYMBOLS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
IN POLAND EASTER EGGS ARE DYED RED WITH DYE FROM ONION SKINS.
THE RED REPRESENTS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment: SYMBOL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
GAMES
CHILDREN ENJOY ROLLING EASTER EGGS DOWN AN INCLINED
BOARD TO SEE WHOSE TRAVELS THE FARTHEST. EGGS ARE ALSO TAPPED
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER . THE LOSER IS THE ONE WHOSE EGG CRACKS FIRST.
FIRECRACKERS ARE ALSO POPULAR.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM IS CARRIED ON IN POLAND. IT IS ALSO CARRIED ON IN
MANY POLISH FAMILIES AROUND DETROIT, INCLUDING MY FAMILY.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 04-02-1979
EASTERTIDE
PISANKI ARE COLORFUL EASTER EGGS WITH DESIGNS ON THEM. HANDMADE
TOOLS ARE USED TO WRITE ON THE EGGS WITH BEESWAX. THEY ARE THEN
DIPPED INTO COLORING SEVERAL TIMES AS DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE
BEESWAX DESIGN ARE REMOVED. IN EARLY POLISH HISTORY, THE SLAVICS
HAD SPECIAL MEANINGS ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT DESIGNS. A FISH IS A
SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY; A BIRD MEANS HAPPINESS; REINDEER, GREAT
WEALTH; ROOSTER, FERTILITY; BUTTERFLY, NATURE AND THE RESURRECTION;
PINE TREE, ETERNAL YOUTH AND HEALTH; FLOWERS, LOVE AND CHASTITY.
THE FIRST PISANKI WERE FOUND NEAR OPOLE IN OSTROZKA AND DATE FROM
THE 10TH CENTURY. THE EGG ITSELF IS CONSIDERED A SYMBOL OF LIFE,
REBIRTH, OR AWAKENING OF SPRING FROM A WINTER'S SLEEP.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POPULAR CUSTOM IN POLAND AND IN POLISH COMMUNITIES IN
THE U.S.A.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 04-15-1979
EASTER EGG TRADITION
THERE IS A CUSTOM WITH THE POLISH PEOPLE OF PASSING AROUND
THE DINNER TABLE ONE BLESSED, HARD-BOILED EASTER EGG. THE
OLDEST MALE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY BEGINS TO BREAK THE SLICES
OF THE EGG WITH OTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. USUALLY A
WISH IS MADE BETWEEN THE TWO AND THEN SEALED WITH A KISS.
HOWEVER, IF THE EGG DROPS, ONE OF THE TWO WILL NOT LIVE
TO SEE THE NEXT EASTER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 03-27-1970
GREEK EASTER CUSTOMS
IN GREECE, AT EASTERTIME, THEY BAKE A SPECIAL ROUND LOAF OF BREAD,
WITH A DYED RED EGG IN THE CENTER.
Where learned: GREECE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Season CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 12-00-1979
AT EASTER TIME THE IRISH PLAY THE GAME "BUCKING EGGS". WHOEVER CRACK
THE OTHER ONES EGG, GETS TO KEEP THAT EGG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
EASTER FOOD TRADITION
AS PART OF THE EASTER TRADITION, EGGS ARE HARD-BOILED IN ONIONS TO
TURN THEM A REDDISH-BROWN COLOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: CA00001930S
POLISH EASTER CUSTOMS
EASTER EGGS ARE DYED BY BOILING WHITE EGGS IN
ONION SKINS. IF THEY ARE ONLY BOILED FOR A
FEW MINUTES THEY WILL BE YELLOW. IF BOILED LONGER
THEY WILL BE ORANGE. IF BOILED EVEN LONGER THEY
WILL BECOME RED-BROWN. ONLY THE RED TYPE OF ONIONS
WILL GIVE COLOR. THE EGGS ARE TAKEN TO CHURCH ON
HOLY SATURDAY TO BE BLESSED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 10-30-1983
COLORED EGGS
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED ON A SWING SET. THE PLAYERS NUMBERED
ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO MORE. ONE PERSON WAS THE WOLF--THE
REST OF THE PLAYERS WERE EASTER BUNNIES. THERE WAS A
MOTHER BUNNY AND HER BABIES. EACH OF THE BUNNIES SAT
ON THE SWINGS. THE BUNNIES WOULD EACH HAVE AN
EASTER EGG AND WOULD SECRETLY DECIDE A COLOR FOR IT . THE
WOLF WOULD TRY TO GUESS THE COLORS OF THE EASTER EGGS.
IF HE GUESSED RIGHT, HE WOULD CHASE THE LITTLE BUNNY
WHOSE COLOR HE HAD GUESSED UNTIL HE CAUGHT THE BUNNY
OR THE BUNNY REACHED THE SAFETY OF THE SWING SET. IF
HE DID NOT CATCH THE BUNNY HE WOULD PLAY WOLF UNTIL HE DID.
IF THE BUNNY WAS CAUGHT, HE WOULD PLAY WOLF AND THE WOLF
WOULD PLAY THE BUNNY.
Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS PLAYED IN ARKANSAS AROUND EASTER TIME.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
Dorothy's mom taught her how to make Ukrainian Easter
Eggs many years ago. First, they put a hole on each
end of the egg and blow the contents out. They then
put beeswax on the egg carving out only the areas
they want to be dyed a certain color. They continue
this process until the egg has been dipped into every
color they want until the egg is completed.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
In Hungary the day after Easter, Easter Monday,
is also considered a holiday. On that day all
the boys visit the homes of their neighbor girls
and sprinkle them with water. Today they often
use cologne. The girls, in turn, give the boys
a colored Easter egg. The boys that they really
like are given red eggs.
Where learned: GERMANY ; Binabiburg
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001940S
On Good Saturday a Greek family would go to church around 10 PM,
leaving the grandmothers at home. At 12 AM Jesus is symbolically
resurrected from the dead. The people leave church and go home around
1 AM. Meanwhile, the grandmothers were at work preparing a soup known
as "Mayiritza" which contains pieces of lamb, vegetables, eggs, and
lemon in a sheep broth. The family comes home and all eat the soup
and talk. Then red eggs are distributed and cracked while the people
say "Hristos anesti, alithos anesti", which means "Christ is risen,
truly risen."
Where learned: GREECE
On Easter Eve, the Easter Bunny visits our house and leaves
candy in the baskets we have left out on the dining room table. He
also hides the hard boiled eggs which we decorated, in places in
the living room and dining room. Usually we find five eggs apiece
(there are five children); if one of us cannot find all of ours,
then the other children will help find those that are lost.
Submitter comment:
Although this custom has been going on since we were all very
little, and we have lived in the same house for 17 years, at least
one egg, every year, has difficulty being found.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 00001970'S
POLISH EASTER EGGS
TAKE THE SKIN OF SEVERAL ONIONS AND BOIL THE EGGS
WITH THE SKINS. THE COLOR TURNS OUT A LOVELY
NUTTY BROWN.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 11-00-1972
THE POLISH HAVE A CUSTOM WHICH IS THAT THEY COLOR
THEIR EASTER EGGS BY BOILING THEM IN ONION SKINS.
THIS GIVES THE EGGSHELL A BROWN COLOR LIKE THAT
OF THE ONION SKIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
ON EASTER, HARD-BOILED EGGS ARE COLORED WITH VARIOUS
FOOD COLORINGS. THE YOUNGER CHILDREN BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS DONE BY THE EASTER BUNNY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Bunny |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
EASTER CUSTOM
EACH YEAR FAMILIES COLOR EASTER EGGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 02-24-1970
DURING EASTER SEASON, THE GREEKS COLOR ALL THEIR
HARD BOILED EGGS RED TO SYMBOLIZE THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 11-14-1969
EASTER CELEBRATION
THE COLORING OF EGGS AND PLACING OF THEM IN A
BASKET.
Submitter comment: FAMILY PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter baskets |
Date learned: 10-25-1967