HOWTO paint a sorbian / wendish Easter egg in embossing technique · (serbske jatšowne jajki)

More Details below!

Ever asked yourself how to create the ornamented eggs that are common in many Slavic cultures? Check out this video for an ultra-short crash course on how to make a colorful egg in the simple embossing technique.

You will need the following:
blown out and dried eggs (stamps can be removed with vinegar)
spoons bent into shape for the wax
a glass filled with sand
beeswax and paraffin wax
wax crayons with heat-resistant pigments (e.g. from Stockmar)
goose feathers from the wing, without a raised keel
sharp scissors
pins in various sizes
pencils or sticks
candles
patience

The key is having proper tools, especially the feathers should be neither too soft nor too hard. The trimming of the keels can be seen a little better here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ballasc...

Be sure to take your time and plan your patterns and sketch a few lines on your egg. The technique is very forgiving: in case you make a mistake, you can just scratch the wax off the surface.

Here are a few finished eggs for inspiration: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ballasc...

The art of egg decoration is popular with the Sorbs, a minority of people in the east of Germany. Unfortunately, in many places egg painting is the only thing left of the old customs, or rather, it is the only thing that Germans associate with the Wends.

Our grandfather brought this tradition from Schleife (Slěpo) where the similar batik technique is common. He brought this to Burg (Bórkowy) in Lower Lusatia in the 1960s where this tradition was almost forgotten.

Originally, the hard-boiled eggs have been gifts by the godparents to their godchildren. Getting three eggs has been a great deal back then. Today, they are usually blown out and are used for decoration purposes. With a piece of string, they look pretty in a bouquet from twigs!