Easter in Ukraine

By Ekaterina Pritula

From the history of Easter in Ukraine

The day we celebrate Christ’s rising from the dead is called Easter. It is always on Sunday and Sunday is always either in late March, April or May. But without a calendar we cannot tell what Sunday Easter will fall on. The date depends on when the Moon is full in those months. Easter can never be earlier than March 22. It can never be late than May 5.

Ukrainian Easter follows Great Lent, a time during which rich foods are usually forgone or eaten sparingly. Worshipers arrange special foods in basket which they take to church on Easter, morning for blessing. These foods may include ham, sausage, seasonings, cheese, butter, ’’paska’’, eggs, cottage cheese, salt, horseradish, beetradish and onions.

An Easter egg is called pysanka. Pysanka shells have been found in archaeological sites from more than 3000 years ago, and many of those designs are still being used on a pysanka today. We colour Easter eggs and given them to our friends, as a way of saying, “Spring is here”. Pysanka symbolizes life, health, happiness, fertility, prosperity.

Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, is known in Ukraine as Willow Sunday. People bring home willow branches which have been blessed in church. The week is dedicated to preparing for Easter.