Sorbian Easter egg
Decorating Easter eggs is an integral part of the Sorbs' Easter customs . Similar to other Slavic peoples , the eggs are characterized by a particularly artistic and elaborate decoration . According to popular belief, these patterns on the eggs are said to have certain magical effects on the recipient. Traditionally, a hen's egg is painted for this , as duck eggs , for example, do not take the color on their smoother shell so well. Quail eggs or eggs from the ostrich are also occasionally used.
regional customs
The hen's egg itself is considered the origin of life in many cultures and is therefore primarily a symbol of fertility . In Christianity , too, the custom of giving eggs as a gift at Easter established itself as a sign of belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ .
In the areas of Central and Lower Lusatia , Good Friday has been a public holiday since the Reformation . The painting of the eggs was not considered a job and so the decorated eggs were created, which the godchildren gave to their godparents on the following Easter Sunday along with some sweets. This was until the confirmation of the child practiced; afterwards, the child traditionally thanks his godparent with a poem. In the course of time this developed into a mutual gifting of decorated eggs among family members and friends; In addition, some of the eggs are given away for other occasions such as weddings or christenings . In this context, they simply serve as a symbol of personal congratulations. The support group for Sorbian folk culture e. V. also organizes an annual competition in which the most beautiful egg is awarded.
Whales
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The painted eggs are still used by Sorbian children today as a play material for whales , an Easter egg roll on a sloping track: First, a child lays one of his eggs in a pit at the end of the track. A second child tries to hit this egg by also rolling an egg down the path. If he succeeds in this, he receives the first player's egg. If he misses it, the egg stays in the pit and it is the next child's turn. The game ends when all the eggs are in the pit.
techniques
There are a few basic techniques that are described below. In addition, there is also a classic painting, z. B. with acrylic paint, as well as the combination of the different techniques used.
Etching technique
The etching technique is the oldest decoration technique. Originally, a colored egg was placed in an anthill , which gave it an irregular pattern due to the formic acid given off by the ants . Later, the Sorbs used the lactic acid from sauerkraut in particular and applied it in patterns to the colored egg. Recently, for. B. used diluted hydrochloric acid for etching. The etching creates fuzzy, fibrous contours. The advantage is that hardly any preparation is required. There is also little risk of the egg being crushed. The disadvantage is that the acid flowing apart can destroy the contours. The acid itself is also a source of danger.
Wax reservation technique
With the wax reserve technique (also known as the reserve technique or wax technique), the egg is dabbed with hot beeswax before the paint is applied. The reason for this is that there is no paint adhering to the areas "reserved" with the wax. In this way, you can create appropriate patterns by precisely applying the wax. Originally, goose feathers were used for this purpose , the tips of which were filed into a certain geometric shape (triangles, squares, etc.) in order to create simple shapes. To put dots and lines on the egg, pins with glass heads of different sizes are inserted into wooden sticks or pencils . If the egg is to be designed in multiple colors, then after dabbing with wax, you put the egg in a lukewarm color solution and cover, reserve, then the next color. In this way, multi-colored eggs are created, from which the wax is warmed up and removed except for a thin protective wax layer. The technology is considered to be the most colorful of all processes. The disadvantage is that the preparation is comparatively complex. In addition, once applied wax can hardly be removed again.
Embossing technique
The embossing technique essentially developed from the wax reservation technique. The egg is repeatedly dabbed with hot beeswax, but here the wax has been burned and colored with it beforehand. In this way, the color is applied directly with the wax and, with the appropriate layer thickness, creates a relief in addition to the pattern . The technique is increasingly being used because it is comparatively easy to learn. It can also be combined with the wax reserve technique. The advantage is that repeated coloring, drying and waxing are not required. A finished egg cannot therefore be damaged by staining it. The disadvantage is that several different colored wax mixtures have to be kept ready.
Scribing technique
The scoring technique (also called scratch technique) is the most complex and filigree decoration technique. In a colored egg with a particularly resistant and thick shell, corresponding ornaments are scratched into the shell with a sharp object. It is important to check the eggshell carefully beforehand, because the scratching exerts constant pressure on the shell. For this reason, duck and goose eggs, which have a thicker shell, are used for this technique. The eggs are usually brightly colored before scratching. By varying the depth of the cut, corresponding color nuances up to the white of the eggshell can be created. In principle, any sharp object, for example a knife, a twist drill or a triangular file , can be used. It is advantageous that the time-consuming coloring of the eggs is not necessary. In contrast to the wax technique, there is also no need for a device. The relatively high expenditure of time is a disadvantage. There is also a greater risk that the egg will break.
symbolism
The ornamentation is based on traditional forms such as symmetry , rhythm and balance. The sun is often found on the eggs as a symbol of life. In addition, triangular shapes are also applied, which are intended to remind of the Trinity or the family with father, mother and child. In the scratching and etching technique, the depiction of flowers, tendrils or stars is common. But you can also find the tree of life , which symbolizes fertility and growth. Symbols such as the cross or the lamb are applied to match the Easter season . Occasionally one can find depictions of landscapes or Sorbian proverbs.
Colours
The color scheme of the Sorbian Easter eggs is subject to a long tradition. The red color is a symbol for power and magic, but also for love and friendship. The sponsorship gift in Burg in the 1950s consisted of three red eggs; when it was picked up, they said: “go for the red eggs”. As a rule, natural dyes are used to color the eggs. Onion peels are used to achieve a brown shade ; for black colors, however, alder cones or walnut shells . The red color was created with the help of red beech , brazil wood or cochineal . At the time of the GDR , colored woods were hardly available. Chemically produced colors have the advantage that they can be used with both cold and warm water.
exhibition
The Sorbian weaving room in Drebkau has a collection of over 3,000 Easter eggs from 52 countries. They were compiled by the now deceased museum donor Lotar Balke.
literature
- Venetia Newall: An egg at Easter. A folklore study. Routledge & Kegan Paul Books, London 1971, ISBN 0-7100-6845-X .
- Jěwa-Marja Čornakec : Small Sorbian Easter Egg Primer. 7th edition. Domowina-Verlag, Bautzen 2010, ISBN 978-3-7420-1908-0 .
- Postcard folder : Easter greetings from Lausitz. Traditional Sorbian Easter eggs. Domowina-Verlag, Bautzen 2008, ISBN 978-3-7420-2116-8 .
- Gisela Bruk: Easter customs in Lausitz. Domowina-Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-7420-2147-2 .
- Alfons Frenzel: Easter Riding. Domowina-Verlag, Bautzen 2005, ISBN 3-7420-0732-7 .
- Jürgen Matschie, Hanka Fascyna: Sorbian customs. 3. Edition. Domowina-Verlag, Bautzen 2006, ISBN 3-7420-1686-5 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Competition for the most beautiful Sorbian Easter egg ( Memento of the original from August 31, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Website of the support group for Sorbian folk culture, accessed on May 4, 2014.
- ↑ Das Waleien (Walkowanje - Eierrolle) , Spreewald Info website, accessed on May 4, 2014.
- ^ A b Venetia Newall: An egg at Easter. A folklore study. 1971, p. 286.
- ^ Venetia Newall: An egg at Easter. A folklore study. 1971, p. 299.
- ↑ Sorbische Webstube Drebkau , website of the culture project of the regional budget "Region in Action" of the Spree-Neisse district and the initiative of the museums of Lusatia and the Spree-Neisse district, accessed on May 4, 2014.
