vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #563 / Social life / Reading article...

Easter, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or ‘Paskha’ in the Russian language represents the major Russian religious celebration of the year. Easter in Russia is a lot more than a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a long and powerful tradition that could not be eliminated even by the communists. Russians welcome Easter with special Easter bread called Paskha and colored Easter eggs.

In Russia Easter is usually celebrated at a later date than in the West. This happens because Easter dates are determined by different calendars. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the old Julian calendar, whereas the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches switched to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. However, this year the Western and Eastern Easter fell on the same day – April 8.

Sharing food on Easter has been a long tradition in Russia. That is why after breakfast people visit their friends and neighbors and exchange eggs and small Easter breads. Children often play a game where two eggs are beat against each other, the goal being to crack the eggs of other players without damaging your own.

It is also common practice to visit cemeteries and bring eggs, some bread and beer to the graves. In doing so, people let deceased loved ones share in the feast.

Strangely enough the weather on the Easter Day is usually very nice and sunny. "The sun plays", say the Russians. It is an old custom to open the cages and let birds go free on Easter.