Ancient Traditions Of Celebrating Easter In Ukraine

Easter in Ukraine is the main religious holiday. There is no fixed date for celebrating Orthodox Easter. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon (after March 21st) in the Georgian calendar. Basically there is a 35 days time frame of possible dates for celebrating Orthodox Easter. On different years it can be celebrated anywhere from March 22nd to April 25th.

Many believers do not sleep on Easter night. They go to Orthodox temples for the over night service to pray and to sanctify various foods, such as painted eggs called Krashenki, special Easter cakes called Paska, meat, cabbage rolls and even Salo (pig’s fat).

A long 40 days fast precedes Easter in Ukraine. So, when people finally return home from church, they can start eating and drinking anything they want and cease fasting. But Easter dinner here must always start with tasting Easter cakes called Paski.

There are many different religious and folk traditions, beliefs and games that can be used as a part of Easter celebration. For example, it is believed that if a girl washes her face in water with Easter painted egg (Krashanka) in it, she will be as beautiful as that painted egg. Kids also play with Easter eggs. They take eggs and crush them together; those whose eggs don’t crush, win the game.

When celebrating Easter people greet each other with the words: The Christ has arisen! And they receive the answer: Truly He is risen. Such are the traditions of celebrating Easter in Ukraine.