Easter traditions in Ukraine

Easter celebration in Ukraine

Easter. It is a religious holiday which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Ukraine, Easter is more than a holiday. It means deep traditions, ancient rituals, colorful Easter eggs, and family unity. 

Preparing for Easter. People follow Lent (Великий піст)-it lasts for 40 days and is a time of spiritual purification, prayer, and abstinence. During this period, believers give up meat, dairy products, and entertainment. They clean their homes and prepare special food.

Willow Sunday(Palm Sunday) Holy Week, as it is called, begins with Willow Sunday. On this day, willow branches are blessed in church. People gently tap one another with the branches, saying:"Be as tall as the willow, as healthy as the water, and as rich as the Earth. It is not I who am tapping, but the willow. Easter is in a week."

Easter Symbols. Easter bread (Paska)-a sweet bread often homemade and decorated. Pysanky-beautiful eggs painted with wax and dyed. Krashanky-boiled eggs coloured in red and other bright coloures

Easter Basket blessing. On the eve of Easter, people prepare and decorate their Easter baskets in various ways. In addition to pasky (Easter bread) and pysanky (decorated eggs), the baskets often include butter, leaf lard, cheese, roast meat, sausage, smoked meat, horseradish,salt. We take it to church to be blessed.

Easter Morning. After the church service,families have big brekfast with the blessed food. It’s the first meal after Lent,and it’s full of joy and tradition.

Fun tradition-egg fighting. All kids love the Easter morning game called “egg battles” or “egg knocking.” Two people hit their eggs together. If your eggshell breaks, you lose the game. Some families say you must give your egg away or eat it.

Easter greeting. The traditional Easter greeting in Ukraine is: Христос Воскрес! (Khrystos Voskres!) — Christ is Risen!The response is: Воістину Воскрес! (Voistynu Voskres!) — Indeed, He is Risen!This greeting is commonly exchanged among people throughout the Easter season in Ukraine.