Ancient Easter eggs writing tradition still alive in south-east Slovenia

In the southeast of Slovenia, a century-long tradition of decorating Easter eggs is elevated to another level. 

Here women do not dye but, as they say, write on the Easter eggs. 

At a farm in the village of Adlešiči, at the border with Croatia, Good Friday started with a local flatbread, unique for this part of the country. 

The mesmerising smell of a fresh and hot bread filled the air in the farm shed where the neighbours gathered. 

After enjoying a few bites of a still hot bread, it was time for collecting eggs. But those eggs are not going to end up scrambled or just boiled. 

They are destined to become an unique piece of art that exists here for hundreds of years. And the local historian Boris Grabarijan explained their purpose to us:

"Usually, girls wrote those Easter eggs, with some specific note. And they gave it to perhaps a secret, or open lover. In return, she would get something from that boy."

Tončka Jankovič is one of few remaining artists that still master this old eggs decorating craft.

She showed us how she decorates the eggs using beeswax and a specially designed tools. Just several decades ago, people predicted this art was about to become extinct, but life proved them wrong.

"I have to say that lots of young people are coming to the workshops for these eggs, and I am really happy to hear that and to see." Tončka said. "To be a part of this. So young girls and their mothers, often come together. But also they are coming from schools."

It takes around 45 minutes for Tončka to decorate one egg, from emptying it to putting it on a red string. But then, that egg can last for generations. 

In this region, people have lived for thousands of years. Reminders of some of the traditions accumulated over that time are kept in the local museum. There are several exhibitions inside, but the one stands above the rest.

"One of the most precious is this collection of White Carniola Easter eggs or pisanicas." Alenka Misja, Custos of the Belokranjski Museum told us. "These hand-painted Easter eggs are true art and a part of our cultural heritage."

Just a glance at them gives a perspective about how this art has evolved in the past 100 years alone, as we saw the decorated eggs from 1932 and beyond.

And Tončka, with her work, makes sure that this craft has not just the past, but the future too.