In northern Croatia, in the village of Donja Dubrava, a unique tradition lives on: painting Easter eggs black. The craft originated in the 19th century, when the eggs were traditionally exchanged as a symbol of friendship on Easter Sunday. Today, only one family makes them—the Vuceniks. Leading workshops across Croatia, Biserka Vucenik teaches young children, local women and tourists the batik technique.
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00:00Here it is, it's done.
00:02Look at how it is.
00:04In this village in northern Croatia, Easter eggs are painted black.
00:09It's a unique tradition, one that only a single family follows.
00:15This tradition was really interesting.
00:18I think that the black writing was decent,
00:22because the black background was green,
00:25usually red, red, yellow.
00:28Then it came to the image,
00:31and it was something special.
00:35Since the 19th century,
00:37the village of Donia Dubrova has done things differently.
00:41While most Easter eggs are painted in reds, blues and golds
00:46to symbolize new life,
00:48here they are all painted black,
00:51adorned with delicate floral designs.
00:54The black writing is on the list of the
01:03special features of the light of the year.
01:05The black writing is not only red,
01:09but the black writing is also red,
01:11and the black writing is also red,
01:13which is the black writing,
01:16which is red,
01:17and the black writing is red,
01:19two-strips is used to be more longer than an older one.
01:29Once exchanged as a symbol of friendship on Easter Sunday, the eggs are made using the batik technique.
01:39Wax is applied with a handmade copper tool, painted over with black, then peeled away to reveal the pattern beneath.
01:47I am learning from Kisčernica from Marije Fabić, she is my friend of my friends, and I was a friend of my friends, and I was a friend of my friends from Kisčernica,
01:59I was a friend of Kisčernica, which was a great place for Kisčernica, and then I was a little bit of a hard time to do it, but you can see it, but you can see it,
02:11but you are a little bit of a hard time, and that's how I learned.
02:17What began as a childhood memory, Biserka now keeps alive, teaching the art of the black Easter egg through workshops across Croatia.
02:28She has found her audience, young children, local women, and tourists,
02:38all eager to try the delicate craft passed down through her community.
02:44The books were always given. One of the best friends were given, and then one or the other gave the books.
02:54It was always done a week after the exhibition. We called it the Books Week, and it was the White Week.
03:02So, Biserka works late into the night every Easter, keeping her traditional art alive. A celebration of unique beauty, passed into the hands of those who will carry it forward.
03:09Lufi Lee and Zalane Chateau for Taiwan Plus.
03:16Biserka works late into the night every Easter, keeping her traditional art alive. A celebration of unique beauty, passed into the hands of those who will carry it forward.
03:30Lufi Lee and Zalane Chateau for Taiwan Plus.
03:37Lufi Lee and Zalane Chateau for Taiwan Plus.
03:39Lufi Lee and Zalane Chateau for Taiwan Plus.