A dozen people turned out on Saturday to learn a piece of Ukrainian heritage, and they left with a festive Easter decoration.
On Saturday afternoon the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History held its annual boutique Easter egg decorating workshop.
Karen Nealis, an administrative assistant at the museum, said Saturday was the first time she had taught the class. However, it was the fifth year the class has been offered at the museum, and the program is likely to continue for years to come.
Though this was her first year teaching the class, Nealis said she has been hooked on the art since the workshop’s inception.
Nealis said every year the class is limited to 15 people, and some years the museum offers a second workshop.
“It has been very well received by the community,” added Nealis, who noted a few of Saturday’s participants came all the way from Forsyth County to take part in the class.
Saturday’s crowd included folks of all ages, both male and female, and the eggs created sported many different patterns and a number of bright colors.
“It’s a Ukrainian tradition which began as a Pagan ritual to welcome the spring season,” said Nealis. “It later evolved into a Christian tradition.”
Nealis described the method by which the participants decorated the eggs. Wax is heated and placed in a pattern on the egg. It cools, and the egg is placed in die. The wax preserves the color underneath it. The process is repeated using many different colors to complete a colorful pattern.
Saturday’s egg decorating workshop, which lasted about three hours, is a great way to spend an afternoon, said Nealis. With all supplies included at a cost of $10 for museum members and $15 for non-members, it didn’t break the bank for those who participated, either.
“Some of these workshops can cost $50 or $75 a person elsewhere,” said Nealis.
