Easter is celebrated in the CIS countries and Russia according to the Orthodox Christian tradition. It is a major religious holiday and is considered one of the most important celebrations in the Orthodox calendar. Here is a detailed look at how and when Easter is celebrated in the CIS countries and Russia.
- Date of Easter: Easter in the CIS countries and Russia is celebrated according to the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world. Therefore, Easter in the Orthodox tradition falls on a different date from the Easter celebrated in the Western world. In 2021, Orthodox Easter will be celebrated on May 2.
- Holy Week: The week leading up to Easter is known as Holy Week and is a time for fasting, prayer, and reflection. Each day of Holy Week is marked by specific events and rituals, such as the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday and the reading of the Passion on Good Friday.
- Easter preparations: In the weeks leading up to Easter, people in the CIS countries and Russia prepare for the holiday by cleaning their homes and baking traditional Easter bread known as kulich. They also dye eggs in a variety of colors and designs, with red being the most popular color symbolizing the blood of Christ.
- Easter services: The most important Easter service is the midnight liturgy, which is held on Saturday night to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The service begins with a procession around the church, followed by the lighting of candles and the singing of hymns. After the service, people break their fast with a feast of traditional foods, including kulich, eggs, and paskha (a type of sweet cheese dessert).
- Easter traditions: In addition to attending Easter services, people in the CIS countries and Russia have many other traditions associated with the holiday. These include the exchanging of Easter eggs, the blessing of homes with holy water, and the visiting of cemeteries to pay respects to deceased loved ones.
Overall, Easter is a time of great religious and cultural significance in the CIS countries and Russia, with many traditions and customs that have been passed down for generations.
