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BALZEKAS MUSEUM OF LITHUANIAN CULTURE
 
6500 S. PULASKI ROAD CHICAGO, IL 60629
 
TEL.: 773.582.6500
FAX:773.582.5133
 
info@balzekasmuseum.org
 
Open 10 AM - 4 PM daily
Except Christmas, Easter and New Year's Day
 
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Other Popular Seasonal Workshops

 

Užgavėnės Mask Making Workshop

Užgavėnės - Lithuanian Mardi Gras Mask

During Užgavėnės or Shrovetide, revelers adorn masks and costumes. The Balzekas Museum offers a workshop in Užgavėnės Mask Making with a celebratory pancake feast. More...

Lithuanian Straw Christmas Ornament Workshop

Straw Christmas Ornament Workshop

The traditional Lithuanian Christmas ornament is made from natural straw (from the dried stock of cereal grains, typically wheat) which is cut and threaded into ornate shapes, representing stars, the sun, snowflakes, bells, lanterns, and angels. Each year before Christmas, the Museum conducts a workshop on how to make these delicate ornaments. More...

 

Etched Lithuanian Easter Eggs

Vėlykaitis Lithuanian Easter Egg

An etched Lithuanian Easter Egg by the late Ursula Astras, from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The egg shows a Lithuanian wayside cross (left side) with tulips and the "Gediminačiųi stulpai" or Pillars of Gediminas, the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (right side).

The Women's Guild Room features a display of Easter eggs by two renown Lithuanian folk artists, the late Ursula Astras, from Michigan, and the late Ramutė Plioplys, from Chicago. For many years, Mrs. Astras would travel from her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to conduct Museum workshops in the traditional etched method of decorating Easter eggs. More...


From the Gift Shop:

A Gift Shop Book on Lithuanian Egg Decorating Traditions

 

Easter Egg Decorating Workshop
Saturday, Mar 27 @11am

Easter is the first spring holiday, the rebirth of nature. The dyed egg is the primary symbol of Easter, signifying life, goodness and a bountifulharvest. Easter egg decorating is a family affair, done on the Saturday before Easter.

The Easter meal is begun with eggs. It is tradition to strike two eggs together: one person holds his egg while the other hits it with his own egg. The strongest egg is left uneaten. 

Visiting with relatives and friends begins in the afternoon, when it is especially common for children to visit their godparents and neighbors, where they are given Easter eggs as gifts.

Learn the ancient art of decorating eggs using the etching technique

Children decorate Easter eggs at the Balzekas MuseumNote: Attendees must bring 6 hard-boiled and dyed eggs to the workshop.
The fee includes an instruction sheet, pattern sheet, etching knife, and free admission to the Museum. Be sure to visit the new exhibition of unique Easter eggs made by the late Ramute Plioplys in the Women's Guild Room of the Balzekas Museum. A new documentary entitled Lithuanian Calendar: Festivities, Customs, Traditions by director Arvydas Barysas will be shown after the workshop. Light refreshments will be served.

Fee: Museum members - $12, non-members - $15
Children under 12 - $5

For more information and registration, please call the Museum at 773-582-6500

Programs are made possible in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the ECPC.

 

Educational Programs

The Museum provides a variety of workshops in traditional Lithuanian folk arts. Workshops are but a part of the educational programs at the museum. More...