Romanian's have a number of traditional crafts that are celebrated within the country and around the world. Many of these crafts express Romanian faith and customs. One of these crafts, the hand painting of hollowed out eggs for the Easter holiday, is linked to life in Bukovina county.
A tradition I have learned about in Suceava is perhaps one of Romania's most famous--the hand painting of Easter eggs. Although Easter has yet to take place, these eggs are sold and displayed year round as a celebration of Romanian craftsmanship. Making these eggs takes a lot of skill. First, the eggs are drained so that they are just a fragile shell. Then, a stylus, or thin wooden pencil containing paint or wax, is used to decorate the shell. The patterns used are usually traditional Romanian symbols and designs--like flowers, clovers, and religious symbols. In Bukovina county, there is also the belief that if an egg makes it the entire year without cracking, your family will be protected from harm. This traditional craft even has its own museum in Vama, an area just outside of the city of Suceava.
