PAINTED EGGS IN THE TRADITIONAL CULTURE OF DIFFERENT PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

Abstract

In many peoples of the world, the egg is revered as a symbol of life, since the embryo inside gives hope for the awakening and renewal of nature, the continuation of the family. The famous thesis in this case - chicken or egg? - necessarily means the vital life energy. One of the oldest rituals of decorating eggs, their decoration is known among Zoroastrians, whose places of compact residence are associated with Azerbaijan, India and Iran. However, it is in the last mentioned country that the custom of decorating eggs has survived to this day, thanks to which it is amenable to study. This phenomenon brings together the culture of ancient Persia with today’s Ukraine, where the tradition of painting eggs has also been known since ancient times, but has now become established, because today the pysanka is a national brand here, which claims to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The difference between the eggs decorated for the Novruz holiday in Iran and the Ukrainian Easter pysankas, krashankas, malovankas, krapankas and dryapankas is great, and it lies primarily in the ornamental solutions of the works, the technique and style of design.