Painted eggs in traditional culture of Iran

Abstract

Many peoples of the world revere an egg as a symbol of life, as the embryo inside it gives hope for the awakening and renewal of nature, the procreation. There is a well-known thesis – a chicken or an egg? – that certainly means the vital energy by the latter. One of the most ancient rituals of eggs adornment, their decoration is known among Zoroastrians, whose habitats are related to Azerbaijan, India and Iran. However, it was in the latter country among the ones mentioned above that the custom of decorating eggs has survived to the present day, such that it can be studied. This phenomenon makes the culture of ancient Persia related to
contemporary Ukraine, where the tradition of painting eggs was also known since the ancient times, but today it has become well-established, as pysanka is now a national brand that claims to be included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The difference between the eggs decorated for the Nowruz holiday in Iran and the Ukrainian Easter eggs is great, and it consists primarily in the ornamental patterns, technique and style of decoration.