Old patterns on traditional pisanki (decorated Easter eggs) from the region of Opoczno, central Poland [sources of pictures: 1,2,3,4,5].

Word pisanki is derived from the verb pisać (”to write” or in old Polish: “to paint”) as a reference to old tradition of leaving messages or wishes on the eggs. These pisanki are being prepared by “writing” the patterns on the eggs with melted wax [last pic] and then dipping the eggs in dyes - at the end the wax is being removed, revealing the decorations. The region of Opoczno, as well as the area of Krzczonów in eastern Poland, still maintains some of the oldest of decorative motifs, but the original meaning of most of the symbols repeated generation after generation had been largely forgotten.

Originating as an ancient pagan tradition, the custom of preparing pisanki was absorbed into Christianity. Nowadays, in a form of the “Easter eggs”, they are being put into the Easter baskets (remnants of old Slavic food offerings) for the blessing in churches on the Holy Saturday.