Easter in Ukraine: Now and Then



Easter in Ukraine: Now and Then      by Hanna

Easter in Ukraine is one of the most important Christian holidays in the country, and it occurs every year in the springtime. It is a celebration linked to the time when Jesus Christ came back to life and symbolizes renewal and hope for everyone. In the past, families would prepare for Easter with the special customs that had been passed down through generations. Ancient people would prepare for the holiday by fasting for forty days and spending days baking paska (sweet Easter bread) and decorating eggs with wax, and they boiled them in onion skin to dye them; those eggs were called “pysanky”. The last week before Easter was considered the strictest part of the 40-day fast,  with each day having special significance. On Holy Wednesday, people would clean their homes thoroughly. Holy Thursday, also called Clean Thursday, would begin before sunrise, as families would take a ritual bath with a prayer to ensure good health for the whole year. Additionally, on this day, people would complete their final cleaning at home to remove any negative energy. Families would attend church late at night on Saturday and bring baskets filled with food to be blessed. Today, Easter is still widely celebrated, but some customs have changed. Easter was not only a religious event but also a time for gathering together with families.

While many traditions still exist, some parts of Easter celebrations in Ukraine have changed over time. In the past, people would strictly follow the fasting period and perform rituals like the ritual bath on Holy Thursday, which is less common today. Many families would also spend a lot of time baking paska and decorating eggs by hand. Nowadays, some people buy paska from bakeries and use modern dyes and stickers for egg decorating. Despite these changes, Easter is still a time for families to spend time together. The holiday meals, attending churches, and sharing traditions remain an important part of the celebration. Overall, the idea of renewal and hope continues to be a central part of this holiday.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beltane, the Gaelic May Day Festival

Image
The Gaelic Festival of Beltane 💮      By Lisa Historically, Beltane was a Gaelic festival which is celebrated annually on May 1st by the ancient people living in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It occurs on the half-way point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer solstice. It was a time when the ancient people anxiously waited for summer. Moreover, Beltane marks the transition from the cool, rainy spring days to the warm, long, sunny summer days. In the past, Gaelic peoples would decorate houses and farm animals with the beautiful, yellow flowers. Ancient people would visit natural wells, small pools of underground water, to cleanse away the tiredness of the industrious spring days. Additionally, ancient Celts would light large, bright bonfires which drew neighbours to the local church yard. They would rejoice in the fresh, fragrant smell of the spring flowers and the fresh, soft ground. At the gatherings, the Celts would dance to the familiar rhythm of traditional...
Read more
Image
 The Dragon Boat Festival This festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th Chinese lunar month. In the past, people would celebrate it with simple but meaningful traditions. Villagers would hang fresh, green herb leaves on doors to keep bad luck away. Children would wear small, colorful, silk pouches with some specific herbs around their necks or pin them to their clothes. Women would wrap "zongzi" by hand using bamboo leaves. "zongzi" is a sticky, traditional food on this special day with some rice, beans and other ingredients. In different areas, "zongzi" can be either savory or sweet. People would cook them slowly over a wood fire. Also, people would watch the dragon boat races with old, wooden boats painted with bright dragon heads. The boats would be painted with color and pattern.  Normally, on the first day before the dragon boats enter the water, people would hold ceremonies by the river. An elder would paint the dragon's eyes, and people believe...
Read more