Also known as Ukrainian eggs, pysanky are an ancient art form still practiced today. These are "written" in the traditional way of using beeswax and dye in a wax resistant process, or batik-like process, on real eggshells. The whole process takes many hours to complete, the total time depending on the intricacy of the design and the size of the egg. The symbols and colors decorating the eggs have special meanings, and can often mean many different things.