Easter (Paskha) in Ukraine is a public holiday, which is officially celebrated according to the Julian calendar. This year it falls on Sunday, April 12. Catholics and Protestants, according to the Gregorian Paschalia, celebrated Easter this year on April 5.
Easter is one of the most solemn Christian holidays of the year. It is considered the brightest, most important holiday of spring. It is the oldest holiday in the Christian world, symbolizing the victory of life over death and good over evil.
Christians believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ after his martyrdom. According to the Gospel, Jesus accepted death on the cross, becoming an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. After being crucified on Friday, Jesus was resurrected on Sunday morning.
Mary Magdalene was the first to see him, and later the apostles. For Christians, the resurrection of Christ is proof that death is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life with G-d. Death and resurrection mark the establishment of the New Covenant - a new relationship between G-d and people, based on love and forgiveness.
“How much pain and suffering did the completely innocent Jesus have to go through to free us from sin? We ask ourselves – why did he do it? The answer is – because he wants to lead us to his heavenly Father, he wants to open the way to heaven for us… After all, he came, was born, lived, suffered and died to give us life. … we must revive a feeling of great gratitude to Jesus Christ. … if we are with him, if we accept him and truly appreciate his life, death and Resurrection, then we can hope for something better.”– writes in his Easter greetings the priest, bishop, cardinal of the Catholic Church, Lubomyr Husar.
As in ancient times, the celebration of Easter is preceded by a 40-day Great Lent – one of the strictest in Orthodoxy. This is a time of repentance, rethinking life and cleansing the soul. On the eve of the holiday, believers bake paska – a ritual bread, paint and decorate chicken eggs, which must then be consecrated in the church. There are many more rituals that must be performed during the celebration of Easter. Night service, family breakfast with breaking the fast with a consecrated egg, “christening”, as well as spring festivals, gaivka and obliva Monday – among them.
There is also a belief among Ukrainians that the end of the world will not come as long as people adhere to the custom of celebrating the Bright Resurrection.
So, let's wish all Ukrainians that, despite all the efforts of the dark forces, our traditions live as long as possible and do not disappear.