The children’s table of pysanka designers.
YONKERS, N.Y. – The local branch of the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna (known by its Ukrainian-based acronym as OOL) on Saturday, March 14, conducted its second annual pysanka workshop in the downstairs hall of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yonkers, N.Y.
This year, over 25 workshop participants practiced their Lemko “pysanka” (Easter egg) decorating skills under the guidance of OOL members and Yonkers natives Basia Barna Andrusko and Lesia Kozicky. They demonstrated the unique Lemko “drop pull” technique, whereby a pinhead is used to place a drop of wax on the egg and quickly pull the wax to the side, creating a tail shape. The numerous dots with tails are then arranged into various designs, distinctive to the Lemko region.
The children’s table was particularly impressive this year, as youngsters created beautiful Easter eggs that rivaled those of their parents. The Rev. Kiril Angelov welcomed the group and asked the OOL to make the Lemko pysanka workshop a yearly tradition, to which branch President Stefan Kapitula gladly agreed.
Tracey Evans Kuzemczak
The Lemko-style pysanky created by workshop participants.
OOL is commited to preserving Lemko-Ukrainian cultural traditions and sponsors various events throughout the year. Its hallmark event is the Lemko Vatra festival, which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this year on June 27-28 at the Ukrainian American Youth Association grounds in Ellenville, N.Y. For more information about the OOL or the Lemko Vatra, readers may visit www.lemko-ool.com.