CROATIAN EASTER
Coloring and decorating Easter eggs,
called "pisanice", is among the oldest traditions. There
are several ways of decorating Easter eggs. The best known method is
to use hot liquid wax with the help of pencil-like instruments. After
coloring, the wax is removed, revealing the splendid decorations. Before
artificial coloring, eggs were colored by being boiled in water with
onions, walnuts, roots and herbs. In order to get their shine, they
were polished with oil before being placed in the basket. Another method
of decorating, popular in continental Croatia, was to use a knife,
as well as threads of silk and wool, while the third method was to
use formic acid.
Eggs in the southern part of Croatia are traditionally colored in red and have
white star or rosette shaped decorations, while decorations such as pine branches,
flowers, circles and spirals are more common in other parts of the country.
Finally, there is one more custom related to Easter eggs - the so-called "tuca" (egg
fight). Everyone would choose an egg from the basket and would hit it against
their adversary's egg. The winner would be the person whose egg remained intact
throughout the "fight".
