I have been to multiple websites searching for Pysanky info.
Almost all state that the tradition pre-dates Christianity.
I have seen many references that state that the use of christian
symbols is a recent addition to the decorations. (cross, church,
triangles representing the trinity,)

I will try to re-visit some of these sites and find a quote.

Here is what i found in one document, compiled from many sources:

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This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org


I know they seem to have originated in the Ukraine. Sophie Knab says that decorated eggs in Poland can be dated to the 1300s, as they appear in the story of a miracle occurring at St. Hedwig's tomb in that time. I want more documentation. Were they used in other Slavic countries? Also, Knab describes some flirting games associated with pisanki, and I'm interested in whether these are period. I'm also interested in the symbolism of the pysanky designs.

Due to the nature of the art form surviving specimens from period do
not exist as far as I know, (anyone has any other information and I would love to know). But I have secondary documentation of a gift to an English King in the 1100 or 1200's.

decorating eggs started in ancient Egypt and Persia...
the art form was pre 998 in the Ukraine...

However, a ceramic egg (which is labeled an Easter egg, although it could have been used for other purposes) was found in the Novgorod digs. No information about its decoration (if any) or its construction are given in my source (The Archaeology of Novogorod, Russia. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series: no 13). From what I can figure, it was found in the 12th century
layers. I could have sworn that there was a mention of wooden eggs being found as well, but I can't seem to locate the cite anywhere.

Anecdotal evidence from the canonization hearings for St. Hedwig suggests that at the time that St. Hedwig was canonized (1267), colored eggs were used as grave offerings in Silesia, since the story related by Sophie Knab in Polish Traditions, Customs & Folklore says that a littel crippled boy regained his mobility chasing a colored egg at the tomb of St. Hedwig.

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from this site: http://www.eveseggs.com/history.html
The History of Pysanky

The word pysanky comes from an ancient Ukrainian word meaning "to write." The Ukrainian art of decorating Easter eggs (pysanky) has been around since before Christ. The earliest eggs were decorated with symbols to bring health, abundance and fertility to the family, their livestock and crops. With the widespread acceptance of Christianity in late 900 A.D., the pagan designs took on a religious significance. Modern pysanky can incorporate either religious or secular symbolism-- or neither.

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from this site: http://crafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/pysanky-ukrainian-egg-decorating-for-easter

The Ancient eastern European art is still practiced today. Traditionally given as Easter presents to young & old, pysanky eggs are the ultimate in decorated Easter eggs.

Because of the fragility of eggs, no ancient examples survive. Interestingly enough, ancient examples of porcelain eggs with similar decorations have been found. In 1978 a real egg pysanky was discovered from the late 1600s. Sadly, collections of pysanky in Russian museums did not survive war or the Soviets. Since Ukrainian independence in 1991, the art has been revived in the place it was born.

Pysanky Easter Eggs

Pysanky comes from the word pysaty that means to write. Designs are drawn into real eggs using beeswax and a tool known as a kista. Heated in the flame of a candle, the melted wax seals the egg from accepting the dye. Much like fabric batik, light dyes are used first, with subsequent wax layers and dye baths.

Dying eggs was a tradition long before the advent of Christ and Easter. The symbols decorating the eggs include pagan as well as Christian meanings. Pysanky eggs are a symbol of life eagerly adopted by Christians. Other eastern European groups that dye eggs include the Belarusians, Bulgarians, Serbs, Czechs, Lithuainians, Poles, Romanians, Slovaks, and Slovenes.

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from this site:
http://www.celebratingeaster.com/crafts/egg-decorating/pysanky.aspx

Pysanky
For the truly artistic (and patient) egg decorator

Pysanky was engrained in Ukrainian Easter history well before the birth of Jesus Christ. Because the egg is so fragile, there are no actual examples of the art in its earliest forms, but it is well documented that the art was first a form of sun worship. Ukrainians would paint these fragile and precious orbs with signs depicting the blessings they hoped for, and then offer them up to the sun. It wasn't until the year AD 988 that Christianity was officially accepted in the Ukraine and Pysanky became "Christianized." Many ancient symbols are now used in conjunction with Christian symbols, to affect a range of stunning symmetries.

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http://www.doityourself.com/video/What-is-Pysanky-170895332

Video Transcript
Rebecca: This ancient Ukrainian art form starts as a gift to spread goodness to different households. Hi, I'm Rebecca Britney, and welcome to watchmojo.com. And today, we'll be looking at the pysanky. So can you tell us about the history of the pysanky?
Christine: The pysanky started before Jesus Christ, before Christianity came into Ukraine. It starts with the pagan time. The egg was a symbol of rebirth during the spring time. It so happens that easter is around the spring time. So when Christianity came into Ukraine, it was almost, actually very normal to offer eggs because it was still the symbol of rebirth and life.
Rebecca: Can you outline the tools and supplies that you need to use to start making the pysanky.
Christine: A kyska, which is, if you translate the word kyska, it means bone. But it was a slightly different type of tool in the olden days. It was a wood tool with a copper funnel at the end. We used bees wax. And of course we need raw eggs, and of course we have our dyes which are here. These are called analin dyes, they come in a powder solution and we dilute them with hot boiling water.
Rebecca: So, how do you come up with the designs?
Christine: You can create one egg from that egg, you like the design, you change a little bit something else and then you create another egg. There is a trend for the designs where there are usually more traditional and what I mean about traditional is we don't see bunny rabbits and we don't see things like that, it's more of a religious side of easter which we see. We see more crosses, birds, fishes, everything is symbolic. So our designs are all symbolic. Animals such as deer, horses, they're all symbol of good health, the never ending line around the egg which is a symbol of eternity. White is purity, black is eternal life. The word pysanka, or pysatte, because it comes from the verb pysatte, the verb pysatte means to write. So we're not painting, we're not coloring, we are writing a design, we are writing a message and when you write a message, you are wishing somebody good health, wealth, prosperity.

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from this site: http://www.ukrainianmuseum.org/

In attempting to understand creation, ancient people developed myths in which the egg was perceived as the source of life, the sun, and the universe.

The Ukrainian pysanka (plural: pysanky) was believed to possess enormous power, not only in the egg itself (which harbored the nucleus of life), but also in the symbolic designs and colors drawn on the egg in a specific manner, according to prescribed rituals. Pysanky were used for various social and religious occasions and were considered to be a talisman, a protection against evil, as well as harbingers of good.

The symbolic ornamentation of the pysanka consists mainly of geometric motifs, with some animal and plant elements. The most important motif is the stylized symbol of the sun, which is represented as a broken cross, a swastika (an ancient Sanskrit symbol), a triangle, an eight-point rosette, or a star. Other popular motifs are endless lines, stylized flowers, leaves, the tree of life, and some animal figures such as horses, stags, and birds. The influence of Christianity introduced such elements as crosses, churches, and fish.

It took a long time for the Ukrainian pysanka to develop and achieve perfection. Although contemporary artisans continue to employ ancient symbols and traditional colors on the egg, the pysanka is no longer considered to be a talisman, just a beautiful folk art object.