Birthday
HydrangeasThis article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. In Ukraine the Easter basket is packed on the eve of the Resurrection so the food can be blessed in church, and after the feast it is shared with family and friends. Making a basket yourself is easy and a fun activity for the whole family, so get the children involved.
What to put in an Easter basket
The basket is lined and covered with an embroidered rushnyk (ritual towel) or a napkin. Traditionally it holds paska (Easter bread), krashanky and pysanky (dyed and decorated eggs), sweet cheese paska or cheese, butter, roast meat or sausage, salo, horseradish, salt and a candle. The contents vary by region and family custom. Read about the beliefs connected with the feast in our article on Ukrainian Easter superstitions.
Tutorial 1: a basket from fabric coils
You need: bright cotton scraps, thick cord or clothesline, thread, a needle or sewing machine and scissors.
- Cut the fabric into strips 2–3 cm wide.
- Wrap them tightly around the cord with a slight overlap to make a colourful rope.
- Coil the rope into a spiral to form the base and stitch the coils together with a zigzag or blind stitch.
- Once the base is the right size, start laying the coils higher, tilting them slightly to build the walls.
- Shape handles from the last coil and secure the end of the cord.
With this technique you can make a basket of any size, from a mini egg holder to a large basket for the blessing.
Tutorial 2: a basket from a bucket in 20 minutes
- Take a clean plastic bucket or tub.
- Wrap it in burlap, linen or crepe paper so the edges stand 3–5 cm above the rim.
- Tie it with ribbon or jute twine and fold the top edges into ruffles.
- Hot-glue artificial flowers, pussy willow, feathers or wooden figures to it. Put fresh flowers in small water tubes.
Ideas for inspiration
If you sew, knit or enjoy quilling, your basket can become a real masterpiece.
Natural egg dyes
- Onion skins: golden to reddish brown.
- Beetroot: pink.
- Turmeric: bright yellow.
- Red cabbage: blue (leave white eggs in the liquid overnight).
- Spinach or nettle: soft green.
- Coffee: beige.
Add 1–2 tablespoons of vinegar per litre for a more even colour. Only use food-safe dyes for eggs that will be blessed and eaten.
FAQ
Can I put fresh flowers in the basket?
Yes, spring flowers and pussy willow are a lovely addition. Use floral foam or water tubes to keep them fresh.
What can I use instead of a rushnyk?
A linen napkin or a white embroidered cloth works well.
Can I give an Easter basket as a gift?
Of course: fill it with baking, dyed eggs, sweets and flowers for a warm gift for your family.
No time for crafts, or want to greet loved ones in another city? Choose gift baskets or flower baskets with delivery from UFL. Happy Easter to you and your family!
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
