Romania’s Painted Easter Eggs: A Story of Art and Tradition
Diana Condrea
The painted Easter eggs are the most colorful and loved part of this religious celebration in Romania. You’ll find them in every house, at every Easter meal, at church, and even at picnics. Their origin goes back at least a couple of centuries, and today they represent the most popular image of Orthodox Easter.
Painted Easter eggs
Photo source: pixabay.com
Art from the rural world
The lines used in the painting process have their own meaning. If the straight vertical line means life, the horizontal one means death. The double straight line and the spiral symbolize eternity while the curved line is water and purification.
The art of painting eggs is best represented in Bucovina, the land of wonderful painted churches like Voronet and Moldovita. You can visit two museums dedicated to the painted Easter eggs in this region, each with thousands of eggs exhibited.
Travel tips
These painted eggs are not as fragile as you imagine and they’re wonderful souvenirs. Buy at least one from Bucovina.
You can find painted eggs in most souvenir shops across the country. Ask for more details about the artisan to be sure you’re buying an original.
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