To all our clients who live in western countries, happy Easter holidays! Whether you are religious or not, it’s great to enjoy a little break and get together with the family and friends.
How Russians Celebrate Easter?
Russians and Ukrainians celebrate Easter usually on a different date to the western countries. The reason for that is that churches in Russia, Ukraine keep to Julian calendar, while western denominations use Gregorian calendar.
In 2016 Orthodox Easter is celebrated on Sunday 1 May. This date belongs to another holiday, Russian Labour Day. So, this year Russians will have 2 holidays at once.
Russians will have 4 days off: Saturday 30 April to Tuesday 3 May. Russians do not celebrate the Good Friday.
Russia is predominantly a Christian country and President Vladimir Putin attends church regularly. Most Russians belong to the Christian Orthodox Church (similar to Greeks).
Ukrainians are also predominantly Christian Orthodox. Since recently a separate brunch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was created, which in essence keeps to the same beliefs.
For Easter celebrations, Russians traditionally colour chicken eggs into shades of red by boiling them with dry skins of brown onions. The dark red colour of boiled eggs symbolizes this holiday for the majority of Russians.
Kids and adults alike love to play at the festive table by trying to win into the battle of the eggs: everyone hits the egg of the neighbour, the one whose egg doesn’t crack, wins.
It’s also a custom to bake a special type of sweet bread called “Paskha” (which means “Easter” in Russian), covered with either colourful sprinkles and white sugar glaze.
For celebrations Russians bake a special sweet bread called Paskha (“Easter”), covered with sugar glaze and sprinkles. They use colourful stickers on top of boiled chicken eggs or follow the tradition by colouring eggs dark red.
There is Lent (The Great Fasting) before Easter. The Lent lasts 48 days, during which only vegetable products are permitted to be consumed.
In 2014 Lent lasts from 14 March to 30 April. Some Russians observe it. During some days fish is allowed, during others only raw vegetables, water and bread are permitted. Some days no food is allowed.
The night from Saturday to Easter Sunday is celebrated with a street procession. The service starts at about 11 pm and lasts until 3-4 am, during which the procession of believers carrying crosses marches through the night streets.
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The article is interesting to explain why Russia and Ukraine celebrate Easter differently than in Western countries. But I want to tell you about my Easter custom. I am an artist, so every time at the festival do original design Easter eggs. Here are some of my work: in 2014, I issued the eggs in the form of a swan, the Indians invented intricate patterns of cereals. She did Easter basket: colored wicker basket with spray paint and tied a bow of satin ribbon. At last Easter I painted on eggs poppies, made them in outer space theme. And instead… Read more »
Easter for the Russians, it’s not just the posts and service in the Church for children is a great joy, and paint eggs in different colors along with their parents, bakes the cake and so on.
In the same way in our country is another great tradition. On Easter day, children gather in a company, choose any rhyme dedicated to this feast, and go back to their homes, telling these poems, and in return they receive an Easter egg.
A boiled CHICKEN egg? 🙂
I am sure the kids are excited.
Easter is one of my favourite celebrations. Colour chicken eggs make me feel excited. It’s a symbol of Easter. In this day, kids and adults are together. They have fun, trying to win into the battle of the eggs. It’s absolutely true! Deffinately, it’s a big tradition!
Easter is a real great holiday for Russian people and for the people living abroad. It is wonderful time to spend with the family and close people and also we have some days-off to have a rest or to go to the country with our relatives. Have good time!