If I were to pick my favorite holiday, Orthodox Easter would be the one, and for good reason. Easter, and the weeks leading up to the Sunday, is one of the most significant holidays in the Eastern Orthodox calendar. Unique traditions and customs differentiate Orthodox Easter from its counterpart, Western Easter. These traditions and customs have been celebrated and passed down through generations. Whether you celebrate Orthodox Easter or are looking to learn more about the culture and heritage that has shaped the holiday and celebrations around the world, here you will learn about the history, significance, and traditions.

Orthodox Easter

Orthodox Easter, also known as Pascha, dates to the early Christian Church and is deeply rooted in biblical events. Where Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar, occurring one or more weeks after. The discrepancy in dates between the two can be attributed to the calendars followed, in addition to the celebration of Passover. During Holy Week, beginning on Palm Sunday, Christians commemorate the days leading to Jesus’ crucifixion and then, resurrection. Although there is some debate among scholars, these days during Holy Week occurred after Passover. Generally, we can attest that Orthodox Easter occurs after Passover and Spring Equinox and falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon due in part to Jesus arriving in Jerusalem.

Origins

Orthodox Easter is celebrated to acknowledge the resurrection of our lord, Jesus Christ. The resurrection symbolizes the promise of eternal life over death, bringing hope and redemption to humanity.

Great Lent

Orthodox Easter observance begins with Great Lent, or the Great Fast, on Clean Monday. This is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, repentance, and gratitude carried out for his/her love and faith in God. During this fasting period, meat, fish, and dairy products as well as wine and olive oil are not to be consumed, with the exception of shellfish. The rules for abstaining from these products were derived from that of Jesus shed his blood for us and we honor that through not consuming animal-derived products or blood. Beginning on Palm Sunday, Holy Week thus marks the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Services, cultural traditions, rituals, and customs are observed to commemorate Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Holy Week

Beginning on Palm Sunday, this marks the day Jesus entered Jerusalem after the revival of Lazarus. A cross woven from palm is handed out during the morning Church Service. On Holy Monday and Tuesday, Bridgegroom services are held and on Holy Wednesday, the Holy Unction is held in addition to Bridgegroom. From Holy Monday to Wednesday, the church creates an atmosphere of mourning for the upcoming crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Vesperal Liturgy is held in the morning while Twelve Gospels Liturgy takes place in the evening on Holy Thursday. This day also observes the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his Apostles and Pascha preparations begin for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Traditional, Tsoureki (Greek Easter Bread) is baked and eggs are hard-boiled and dyed a deep cardinal red to represent Christ’s blood. On Good Friday, the death of Jesus is mourned while church bells sound throughout the day.

Holy Saturday is the last day of Lent embodied by services and preparations for Sunday and is the day between Jesus’ death and resurrection. Orthodox Churches services hold a ‘Paschal Vigil’ on Holy Saturday in the evening close to midnight, followed by the candlelight procession. Celebrations and breaking of the fast occur thereafter starting after midnight - “Christos Anesti” “Alithos Anesti,” “Christ has risen!” “Indeed he has!”

On Easter Sunday, Agape Vespers morning service takes place and Holy Communion, and the day’s celebrations progress.

Traditions and Customs

Each region and culture has their own variations of traditions and customs that clelebrate Orthodox Easter. Traditionally, Holy Week is the busiest time with church services and the preparation for Easter Sunday. Beginning on Holy Thursday, Tsoureki, sweet easter bread, is baked and the eggs are dyed a deep red. Holy Friday, or Great Friday, are observed to mourn the death of Christ. Following, on Holy Saturday the Eternal Flame is flewn to Greece and the Easter preparations continue. On Easter Sunday, and the day of eating is accompanied by friends and family. In Greece, foods that are commonly served include roast lamb, tsoureki, dyed red eggs, roasted potatoes with lemon and herbs, Magaritsa, and Koulourakia. Further, there is no shortage of Greek olives, Tzatziki, Dolmathas, and spanakopita is available throughout day.

These traditions and customs bring together friends, family, and the community to celebrate with bounds of delicious food, drinks, dancing, and a lot of smiles and memories to cherish. As previously mentioned, Great Lent marks the beginning of the 40-day fasting prior to Easter Sunday. Clean Monday marks the start of Great Lent and the fasting continues through Holy Week ending after the Paschal Vigil. Fasting during this time symbolizes purification of the heart, liberation of the soul and body from sin, and cultivating a closer connection with God.

Food

Traditonally, after the midnight service, Greeks head home to break their fast with the feast that they have been preparaing. The celebration of Christ’s resurrection is carried on throughout Sunday. Making and eating Magiritsa:

Magiritsa, a traditional soup is consumed after the service made from lamb offal with greens, herbs, and dill.

It should be no surprise, that Orthdox Greek Easter families will have a whole lamb that will be roasted. Lamb is a classic red meat that is prized in Greece and has been apart of the culture that dates back to ancient times and therefore holds a significant honor in Greek culture, especially Easter.

Tsoureki is a Greek bread that is perfectly sweet, a Greek style Challah bread if you will. The bread represents the resurrection of Jesus; the baking process symbolizes this through the rising and proofing of the dough and transformation to the final bake. The most common shape of Tsoureki is a braid where each rope shaped strand represents the Holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As Easter is my favorite and most cherished holiday, Koulourakia is my favorite Greek cookie. Koulourakia is a butter-based vanilla Easter cookie that is enjoyed by itself or with that cup of joe. Traditionally, this cookie is prepared on Holy Saturday and consumed on Easter Sunday. However, my family makes these leading up to Easter and enjoy throughout the year.

Activities

Once the meal is fully prepared, everyone is prompted to select one of the dyed hard-boiled red eggs that were prepared on Holy Thursday. A time honored tradition, tsougrisma, the eggs are used to crack amongst family and friends at the table. Now perceived as a fun game before the meal, there is some symbolism that these eggs represent. The shell is said to symbolize the tomb, and the action of cracking it represents the resurrection and the tomb being broken. Tsougrisma, or egg cracking, entails two people at a time, one holding their egg while the other, taps theirs against the other trying to crack the shell. This continues until two people are left with a side or sides that have not been cracked. The individual left with the uncracked side are said to receive good luck for the year.

Considerably one of the most important services of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church brims to capacity as individuals and families fill the pews and aisles for the evening service and in preparation for Midnight Mass (or Resurrection Mass). Various Hymns are sung throughout the night. In the minutes leading up to midnight, lights inside and around the Church are put out. The priest’s candle is lit, and is then used to light each candle of attendees serving as only light source. At midnight, the priest announces “Christos Anesti” meaning Christ has risen and everyone begins to sing “Christos Anesti” as well. Traditionally, the candle is kept lit and taken home to bless and protect against evil. This flame is to stay lit for 40 days after or until the next Easter.

A Joyous Holiday

Pascha, Orthodox Easter, is a significant and widely cherished holiday where Christians strengthen their faith. Rooted in biblical events with traditions and customs, Easter Sunday and the weeks leading up to serve as a time for fasting, reflection, prayer to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter brings friends, families, and communities together in the celebration through the observance of Holy weeks customs leading up to the end of the fast after midnight to enjoy a feast with those near and dear. From my family to yours, we wish you a Easter that is filled with love and celebration!