Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2001-06-01 / 10. szám

Two painted eggs, between a scratched one.

Viewing the decorated eggs in the display case

part of the country, under different names and in countless versions. It is often intertwined with other symbols, but the ancient meaning remains. Hands or rays represent the protective power of God, and avert evil. The meander, or oak-leaf symbolizes family unity. The members of a family who ate such an egg together at Easter, would never get lost and always find their way home. The symbols of fertility are the rake, cock's comb, dots, seeds, and the frog. The frog is also the symbol of love and rebirth. The ram represents the sun and renewal. Only animal parts can be seen on

Photo by Peter Korniss shows the “old fashion ” way

a Hungarian egg, never the whole figure.

The color most frequently used in decorating eggs is red. This is the reason for the other popular Hungarian name for the decorated egg: red egg (piros tojás). The magical red is the color of blood, which is the "residence of Life" according to the belief of ancient people. Asian horsemen-cultures, the ancestors of the Hungarians included, often put a decorated red egg in the hand of the deceased. The color red also symbolizes eternal life, renewal, love, spring, joy, freedom, new life, resurrection. It brings luck and protects from injury, sickness and fire. Because of its magical powers the name piros tojás is used even if the color red is missing altogether from the egg.

Beside the ancient mythical and religious symbols of many thousands of years, we also have newer but equally typical Hungarian designs. These are individual and vary from region to region in the way of decoration. Folk embroidery and carving designs are often used.

Traditional Hungarian egg-decorating techniques:

The most ancient egg-decorating technique is scratch-carving (karcolt, vakart, kotort tojás). The designs are scratched onto naturally dyed eggs (onion skin is favored) with a sharp tool, such as a knife, razor, exacto knife, metal scriber or piece of glass. This technique was mainly used by men.

Written eggs - wax resist or batik (írott tojás) method. A scriber is used to write the symbols onto the white egg with melted beeswax, the egg is placed into the color bath until the desired shade is obtained. In case of a multicolored egg, the procedure is repeated. This is the most widespread method and almost exclusively done by women.

Engraving (metszett himes) is an interesting version of the written egg. The design is drawn with wax onto the egg, preferably brown, then it is put in vinegar or sauerkraut juice for four hours. The fluid eats away the eggshell not protected with the wax.

Metal applique (vasalt, patkóit tojás)

is a unique Hungarian form of egg decorating. Miniature metal ornaments (metal hangers, tools, Little horseshoes and spurs) made of lead or wrought iron are fitted to the empty egg shell with pins or small nails of lead. Magyars have always been famous horsemen, so even the eggs are equipped for riding. They are made by men, mostly skilled machinists or black-smiths.

After Hungary converted to Christianity , some customs changed that pertained to the egg. After a thousand years, the old and the new blend together perfectly. The decorated egg became part of the Christian Easter.

Beside the colorfully painted eggs of the modem era, the old symbols are not forgotten because Hungarian egg-decorating women are stubborn keepers of traditions! Sometimes we cannot recognize the meaning of the abstract designs at first glance, or their meaning is lost forever. However we can feel the magic they radiate and we should value this kind of decoration and should be glad that these incomprehensible, mysterious designs are still used on the eggs, God's perfect and wonderful creation, as they represent the unchanged mentality of an ancient people.

Emese Kerkay was born in Szolnok Hungary, emigrated with her parents to Germany and settled in the United States in 1967. There she married László Kerkay.

Hungarian folk art, especially embroidery and egg decorating is an integral part of Emese Kerkay's world since childhood. Her first impression with Hungarian egg decorating came about when she was eight years old and deepened in her teenage years in connection with the custom of Water Plunge Monday, an ancient Hungarian folk custom. This also prevails within the Hungarian colonies in the US. . Since 1971 she has continually exhibited, lectured, conducted workshops and consulted on Hungarian folk art. Dear to her heart however is the active practice and promotion of folk embroidery and egg decorating She is the curator of the American Hungarian Museum and the director of Szent István Hungarian School both of Passaic. As a dedicated historian and artist she has recreated hundreds of long lost patterns, utilizing nearly forgotten egg decorating techniqúes. Her valuable egg collection includes, besides the Hungarians, hundreds of interesting eggs from around the world.

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