Pysanka - Color Symbolism

Color Symbolism

It is not only motifs on pysanky which carried symbolic weight: colors also had significance. Although the earliest pysanky were often simply two-toned, it was believed that the more colors there were on a decorated egg, the more magical power it held. A multi-colored egg could thus bring its owner better luck and a better fate.

Each region of Ukraine had its characteristic palette of symbols, patterns, motifs, and colors. Generally speaking, though, certain meanings were associated with the following colors:

• White - Signified purity, birth, light, rejoicing, virginity.
• Yellow - The symbol of light and purity. It signified, youth, love, the harvest and perpetuation of the family. It is the color consecrated to the light deities, and the sun, stars, and moon. It is the Christian symbol of reward and recognition.
• Gold - Spirituality, wisdom.
• Orange - The symbol of endurance, strength, and ambition. The color of a flame represented passion tempered by the yellow of wisdom. It is also the symbol of the everlasting sun.
• Pink - Success, contentment.
• Green - The color of fertility, health, and hopefulness; of spring, breaking bondage, freshness, and wealth. In the Christian era it represented bounty, hope, and the victory of life over death. Green is the color of Christmas, Easter, and the Epiphany.
• Red - The magical color of folklore signifying action, charity, and spiritual awakening. It also represented the sun and the joy of life and love. Pysanky with red fields or motifs are often given to children. In the Christian era it represents the divine love and passion of Christ, hope, passion, blood, fire, and the ministry of the church.
• Blue - Represented blue skies or the air, and good health, truth, and fidelity.
• Purple - Represented fasting, faith, trust, and patience.
• Brown - Represented Mother Earth and her bountiful gifts; earth, harvest, generosity.
• Black - Represented constancy or eternity, the center of the Earth, the darkest time before dawn. Black also signified death, fear, and ignorance.

Some color combinations had specific meanings, too:

• Black and white - Mourning, respect for the souls of the dead.
• Black and red - Ignorance arising from passions.
• Red and White - Respect, protection from evil powers.
• Four or more colors - Family happiness, peace and love.

These talismanic meanings applied to traditional pysanky with traditional designs. Since the mid-19th century, pysanky have been created more for decorative reasons than for the purposes of magic, as the belief in such practices has fallen by the wayside in a more modern, scientific era.