Want to know how Russians Celebrate Easter? 4 things you should know

One of the biggest holidays for Russia is Easter. Among the largest denominations that celebrate Easter in Russia is the Russian Orthodox church. At the Russian Orthodox church, Russians greet with “Христос Воскресе!” (Christ has risen!) and response “Воистину Воскресе!” (Risen indeed!). While you search through Russian dating sites, it is important to know the value of Easter for Russian women and families. Russians value Easter because it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross and the victory of life over death. There are fascinating traditions for this celebration as well as spending time with family and eating food dedicated to Easter. So, do you want to know how Russians celebrate Easter? Here are 4 things you should know.

Time of Celebration

When it comes to Orthodox Easter, the date of celebration for Easter is based on the older Julian calendar. Since Easter goes off the Julian calendar, it means that Easter for Russians falls later in the year compared to Western Christianity Easter’s date. This year, (2022), Orthodox Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 24th in Russia. If you celebrate Western Christianity Easter, this gives you a chance to celebrate Easter twice as they land on different days.

Unique Fasting

It is common for people to give up something during the Lenten period leading up to Easter. In Western Christianity, people will give up things like chocolate, coffee, or something sweet. In Russia, fasting is different. Russian Orthodox fasters will look to get rid of meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and other foods for the Lenten period. In some cases, Russian orthodox fasters will give up cursing, alcohol, and physical intimacy on certain days of the Lenten period. This just goes to show how different people from Russia celebrate Easter compared to Western Christianity. When you are exploring Russian dating sites, have an open mind to the Russian culture.

The Holy Week

What is the Holy Week? In Russia, the holy week refers to the week BEFORE Easter. In that week, it is a time of cleansing. Not just cleansing your mind, body, and soul. Russian Easter tradition has a term for the Thursday before Easter. “Clean Thursday.” On Clean Thursday, Russians celebrating Easter will clean their homes. This is similar to “Spring Cleaning,” but is devoted to one day before Easter.

Extravagant Church Ceremonies

One of the reasons why Easter is such a popular tradition is because of the amazing cultural experience in the church. Russians will attend church from morning till night. Russians will show up to church with a basket full of foods to be blessed during the day. Once that is over, the church will hold a vigil which will last into the nighttime. The Vigil ceremonies include an amazing display of candles, chants, and ritual walks that last into the night. Experiencing the Vigil will give you a sense of how important the Easter holiday is for Russians.

Special Easter Foods

Hard-Boiled Eggs! Russians use eggs for a variety of reasons for Easter. In Russia, you will see some of the most beautifully painted eggs for Easter. The attention to detail on the eggs is unmatched. As part of the tradition, Russians will exchange eggs with family and friends. People in Russia will use eggs to decorate, and play games such as “egg-rolling” and “egg-tapping.” The egg is a representation of the life of Christ whose soul was in the Holy Sepulcher. Other delicious foods that Russians celebrate with are Kulich and Paskha. If you have never heard of them, don’t fear. Kulich is a sweet yeast bread. Kulich has an interesting backstory to it. It represents the “Holy Bread.” The reason they call it the “Holy Bread,” is because, after the death of Christ, his disciples put bread out for him on the table during their meals. Paskha is a cake made with cream cheese and is in the shape of a pyramid. Doesn’t cake sound good right about now? All of the food is boiled and baked the Friday after “Clean Thursday.” As you can see, families in Russia will stay busy as the week leading up to Easter approaches.

Recap…

There are some things that Russian dating sites do not show. You can read over someone’s profile but does that truly help you understand what Russian traditions are all about? Russian Orthodox Easter is an amazing experience that can only be felt when in person. The preparation and celebration make Easter so important to the Russian Culture. While you may view Easter in one way, give the Russian Orthodox Easter a try. If you can’t travel to Russia and celebrate in person, you can always replicate some of the activities. “Clean Thursday” can be your set date and time to clean your home before Easter. Try boiling eggs and practice painting on the eggs. Look up Russian designs that are crafted on the eggs. Cleanse your mind and soul. Look to make similar food items such as the Kulich. Easter is a time with family and loved ones, and let us all appreciate the beauty that is Russian Orthodox Easter.