How to properly prepare and celebrate Orthodox Easter - tips. How to spend Easter (how to behave on Easter)
Every year, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Easter and good holiday- Easter. For them, this is the most important Sunday of the year, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead, atoning for all the sins of humanity with his torment. Easter is a joyful and bright holiday that glorifies Love and Life. It says that there is no death - it is only a certain stage on a person’s path.
Now many people are coming to faith, and they are interested in the history, traditions and customs of Christians. Among other things, they would like to know how to celebrate Easter.
IN old times this day was called differently: Great day, Bright day Christ's resurrection. Both adults and children were waiting for him, and they carefully prepared for him. All the secrets, traditions and rituals associated with this on a bright day, passed down in every family from generation to generation. For the holiday, houses were thoroughly cleaned, perfect order, baked holiday cakes and pies, decorated and painted eggs.
IN Lately clergy often address their parishioners with stories about bright day and how to celebrate Easter. Apart from the obligatory visit to the cathedral and the blessing of food, there are no other unchangeable elements of the celebration.
In the future, everything depends only on you. Think in advance about how to celebrate Easter with your family. Do you want to invite guests on this day, or would you rather celebrate the bright holiday with your loved ones? Take care of lunch in advance, decorate your home and holiday table, but working on Easter is prohibited. On holidays you are supposed to relax and do what brings you pleasure. The most important thing is that you need to celebrate Easter not only with your body, but also with your soul.
Each family decides for itself, but the main thing we must not forget is that this is a bright holiday for all your loved ones. On this day, people traditionally give gifts to each other. small gifts. This is especially true for children - decorative eggs, beautifully decorated Easter cakes and Easter cakes, various Easter souvenirs. a beautiful plate with sprouted grass on which colorful eggs are laid out. Friends and relatives will appreciate this decoration.
Easter can and should become a bright and memorable holiday for children. They are always very accepting Active participation in preparation - they paint the eggs, decorate them with bright stickers, help decorate Easter cakes. During your joint creativity, be sure to tell your child about the history and traditions of this holiday.
Quite often the Orthodox Church is also celebrated on the same day. This was the case in two thousand and eleven. In this case, the holiday becomes even larger and more significant.
And all because in the air you really feel the spirit of something bright and magical.
People prepare for Easter long before it arrives. However, do we know everything about this? amazing day? Yes, perhaps most of us have repeatedly heard the history of the holiday, and also that there should be delicious Easter cakes, Easter cakes and decorated eggs on the festive table.
What else do you need to know in order to properly meet and celebrate the bright day of Christ’s Resurrection?
Let's clarify what can and cannot be done on Easter, as well as on the eve of this great holiday?
Palm Sunday
Let's start with Palm Sunday.
Surely, all believers know that Palm Sunday is considered the moment of Jesus Christ’s entry into the city of Jerusalem.
This day is celebrated exactly one week before Easter. Therefore, as for Easter, the date of Palm Sunday will be different every year. In 2018 Palm Sunday falls on April 1st.
On this day, it is customary for believers to bring into the house the symbol of this holiday - willow branches. They became the main attribute of Palm Sunday.
While attending a church service, willow branches are blessed, after which they are taken into the house and also given to relatives and friends. Blessed willow branches replace the palm branches with which the crowd greeted Christ's entry into Jerusalem on the eve of his crucifixion.
According to the biblical story, Jesus rode into the city on a donkey and was met there by people holding palm branches (in those days they were associated with healing).
It should be noted that this day is very important for Catholics.
They have such a holiday called Palm Sunday. As mentioned above, in the Orthodox religion the palm tree was replaced by the willow. However, that same ancient symbolism has been preserved. Indeed, in our culture it is this willow that is attributed healing properties and magical power.
Believers know that the consecrated willow has special magic: it protects the home from various natural disasters, for example, fires and floods, and protects all family members from illnesses and various troubles.
However, of course, the branch itself will not work. It is also important to remember a number of rules that must be followed.
What not to do on Palm Sunday
So, remember that you cannot break prohibitions on Palm Sunday. To spend this day decently and correctly, as well as to celebrate Easter with dignity, you need to adhere to some recommendations. Here are the most important of them:
On Palm Sunday you need to forget about any kind of work. It is forbidden to work physically: postpone cleaning, cooking, sewing, knitting until later. This is a holiday like many others Religious holidays. Therefore, it is not recommended to work on this day.
Also avoid visiting entertainment venues, such as bars and nightclubs. This day should be celebrated peacefully and quietly with family.
On Palm Sunday you also need to adhere to the menu prescribed for Lent.
You should take care of the menu for the holiday table in advance. As mentioned earlier, on this day it is recommended to refuse physical work, including kitchen chores. First of all, this concerns the preparation of hot dishes.
Alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited. Still, you need to remember that this is a church holiday, you should not turn it into a magnificent feast, and also an extra reason to get drunk.
On this day you cannot swear, or refuse to help someone. If you are asked for something, try to do a good deed.
In addition, there is another strange one for modern people Recommendation: You should not comb your hair on Palm Sunday.
What to do on Palm Sunday
But to forget about headaches forever, there is wonderful remedy, which our grandmothers and great-grandmothers also resorted to: you need to comb your hair, then put 2-3 hairs or the comb itself into water.
On a holiday, the willow should be watered with this water. At the same time, do not forget to say the following magic words: “Water, pour on the ground along with the headache.”
So, as already mentioned, the main event on Palm Sunday is the blessing of willow branches.
Then, after the morning church service, the branches are brought into the house so that they protect your home, as well as all household members, from various potential troubles and possible dangers.
There is another very interesting tradition: with blessed branches you need to lightly hit each other and at the same time pronounce the phrase out loud: “It’s not me who hits, it’s the willow that hits! The willow whips - it hits you to tears!”
It is believed that if a twig touches you, it will certainly protect you from damage and the evil eye.
Even the kidneys consecrated willow have a special healing effect. Since ancient times, kidneys have found excellent use in folk medicine.
According to traditional healers, willow buds help increase male potency. They also treat female infertility and also promote rapid pregnancy.
A child was also bathed in the decoction if he showed signs of illness, and sick pets were treated with the same decoction.
This is a remedy that is widely used in modern medicine.
As for the dishes on the festive table, you need to remember that now is the time of Lent, and, based on this, it is worth considering the menu.
But on Palm Sunday, you can still make an exception to the rules and introduce fish dishes, and also allow yourself to drink a little red wine.
In addition, on this day it is possible and even recommended to replant home flowers. If you believe folk signs, then transplanted on Palm Sunday indoor plant will grow and bloom, and household members will soon experience financial well-being.
But if the plant dries out and its leaves fall off, financial difficulties are most likely just around the corner.
Holy Week
The last week before Easter is considered Holy. This week is also called Holy Week.
However, it is worth remembering that Holy Week has different times there were many other names - Red, Red, Great, Holy Week.
It is Holy Week that is considered the time preceding the crucifixion of Christ. This is a week of active preparation for the holiday of Holy Easter. Housewives begin to decorate their homes original decor, get the most interesting recipes dishes and, of course, actively baking Easter cakes.
Each of the seven days of the week before Easter is of particular importance for believers. On each of these days, certain traditions were observed in Rus'.
First of all, it is worth noting that you must continue to fast throughout Holy Week. This means not eating meat, fish or dairy products. Eggs and butter are also included in the food ban.
In addition, any kind of recreational activity is prohibited during Holy Week. This week you should not sing, dance, it is best to attend church services. This way you cleanse your soul as much as possible before the onset of Easter.
Remember that the last week before the holiday is the most important period.
To celebrate Easter with dignity, you need to avoid committing bad deeds and prevent negative thoughts and desires. Try to control yourself so as not to even think about something bad. Envy, indifference, anger and vanity - all these feelings can corrode our soul, thereby bringing us great harm.
As mentioned above, it is advisable to avoid noisy entertainment events. Give up parties and holidays, as well as too much loud laughter. It should be remembered that Holy Week is a period of great tribulation.
What not to do and what to do during Holy Week
Try to help those who need your help. Take care of the sick, the poor and the needy. Holy Week is a period of repentance, as well as doing good deeds.
Believers simultaneously cleanse their souls and also pay attention to transforming their home: they try to put it in order, paint something here and there, whitewash it, update it, and add new decorations.
In addition, the products that will be present on the festive table are prepared in advance. First of all, these are Easter cakes and painted eggs.
Holy Monday
First day Holy Week- Good Monday.
In Rus' on this day it was customary to restore order and arrange general cleaning. As a rule, housewives took up the cleaning, swept out all the garbage, and cleaned the inside of the room. The men were repairing the outside of the house.
Holy Tuesday
On Maundy Tuesday, all believers remember how Christ exposed the Pharisees and scribes.
On this day it is also customary to pay tribute to the memory of Patriarch Thomas of Constantinople. In the old days in Rus', on Holy Tuesday it was customary to prepare potions for various diseases. It was believed that it was Saint Thomas who drove away fevers and other diseases.
Nowadays, modern housewives on this day buy the products necessary to celebrate Easter.
Those who believe in the power of healing infusions today, like their ancestors, prepare various healing potions.
As on Good Monday, it is allowed to eat raw vegetables, fruits, as well as honey and nuts. Don't forget that Lent continues. In addition, it is recommended to eat only in the evening.
Holy Wednesday
Cleaning of the premises continues on Wednesday. On this day, housewives clean the rooms, wash the floors until they shine, beat out rugs and rugs. It is recommended to complete the cleaning that you have started.
On Holy Wednesday in Rus', a special ritual was performed to ward off all kinds of ailments and illnesses.
Believers scooped up a jug of water from a well, some took it from a river or barrels stored in cellars. Then by Orthodox tradition They were baptized three times, after which they covered the container with water with a clean or new towel.
At exactly 2 o'clock in the morning, the believers were baptized again three times, then poured this water over themselves, leaving some water at the bottom. Then she put on the wet body (it was not dried with a towel). clean clothes, and the remaining water had to be watered until 3 a.m. for house plants or bushes in the garden.
It was believed that a body washed in a similar way, was renewed, and after such a ritual the person felt as if reborn.
Holy Wednesday is associated with the repentance of the sinner. Surely, every believer knows the story of when a sinner washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and then anointed them with precious ointment.
In Rus' they sincerely believed that it was in this environment devilry especially furious. Therefore, women tried to ensure that their behavior was particularly strict and decency. On Holy Wednesday it was forbidden to do handicrafts.
In addition, dry eating continues on this day.
Maundy Thursday
Well, and, of course, Thursday was considered a special day this week, which was popularly called Maundy Thursday.
Maundy Thursday is, first of all, associated with the Last Supper, which Christ attended and where he established the sacrament of the Eucharist. We are talking about Holy Communion. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of the greatest humility and great love for them.
People also remember the story of the betrayal of the son of God by the apostle Judas Iscariot. He committed his famous betrayal for only 30 pieces of silver.
For modern people, Maundy Thursday is, first of all, a day of purity. On this day, it is customary to wake up before sunrise, wash your face, take a bath, finish cleaning your home, and also start preparing Easter treats. Housewives begin to paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, and prepare other traditional dishes.
However, we should not forget that, despite the fact that dishes for the festive table are beginning to be prepared, Lent is still ongoing. Therefore, believers can eat the same raw vegetables and fruits, bread, and also drink water.
As already mentioned, the morning should start with water procedures: It is recommended to take a shower or bath in morning hours, since it is at this time of day that water is endowed with special healing powers. It will get rid of diseases, bring health and good luck to the person who decides to undergo morning procedures.
After taking a bath on Maundy Thursday, you must wear new or clean clothes.
It's also important to remember that this Thursday is the last day of your big home cleaning. After Maundy Thursday It is no longer recommended to clean until next week.
And still very important point, which also needs to be taken into account: from Thursday nothing can be taken out of the house. It is not recommended to give anything away, from minor things to borrowed money.
Good Friday
Good Friday is another special day. This is a day of mourning for the Son of God. According to biblical tradition, it was on this day that Christ was betrayed and crucified on Golgotha.
Through martyrdom, the Savior of all mankind atoned for our sins. On this day you need to give up work; it is recommended to spend it in prayer and reading biblical stories.
There is a belief that if any illness happens on this day, it will go away very quickly and the person will definitely be cured. And any even the most serious problem It will soon be easy to decide. After all, this day is special.
According to believers, on this day people are “helped by angels.” On Friday in Rus' it was believed that ash taken on Friday before Easter has magical power and can cure many serious illnesses, such as alcoholism, epilepsy, the effect of the evil eye, as well as depression.
However, those who find it difficult to completely give up food can eat some bread with water. This is allowed, since not everyone can withstand one day without food.
From time immemorial in Good Friday work was strictly prohibited. There was a popular phrase among people: “a bird does not build a nest.”
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is the eve of Holy Easter. On this day, believers remember the time when the body of Christ was in the tomb.
On Saturday you are allowed to finish all the tasks that you did not manage to finish during the week. This is the day when you can still paint eggs, as well as cook other dishes that will later end up on the festive table.
On this day, believers bring colored eggs to church to be blessed, as well as ready-made Easter cakes and Easter cakes.
Of course, any kind of work must be completed by the onset of Sunday.
Temples and churches hold services where Easter cakes and eggs are blessed. And in the homeland of Christ in Jerusalem, thousands of believers watch the ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire.
What to do on Easter
How to spend this day with dignity? After all, Holy Easter is a special day not only for believers, but also for those who are quite far from religion.
All we can do on this day is to rejoice, treat our family and friends, invite them to visit us, and also pay visits to those who are much worse off than you these days in order to try to help them.
On Easter you can eat any food and drink wine. However, this should be done in moderation. Moderation is the main rule of any feast, and not just Easter.
If you have normal relationship with alcohol, then you can afford to drink it in small quantities. However, if you know you won't be able to stop, it's better to give it up altogether. After all, on the holiday of Holy Easter, being drunk is a great sin.
Remember that fun should be more spiritual than physical.
What not to do on Easter
So, what should you not do on Easter? On this day you should not be sad, indulge in sad and sad thoughts. You cannot walk around angry, gloomy, or quarrel with others. It's especially bad to swear.
But these prohibitions do not apply exclusively to Sunday. All these rules should be followed throughout Holy Week.
This week should become an example of how a person should always behave. Regardless of whether it is a holiday or not, a person must behave decently, honestly and decently. We should always help those who need it, be kinder, use less foul language, and drive away bad thoughts.
What else can't you do on Easter?
The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to restrictions for Easter is the ban on work. If in Easter Sunday you have the day off, you're lucky. But, unfortunately, the question of whether to work or not on Easter does not always depend on us. If the boss confronts us with the fact that we need to go to work, we unquestioningly follow the order and go to work.
Don't worry if your schedule means you have to work on Easter. There is nothing criminal or sinful if you work against your will.
After all, we are also talking about obedience here. You are simply required to conscientiously perform your normal work. It is believed that if you fulfill your duties honestly and truthfully, the Lord will definitely understand and forgive you.
Regarding prohibitions on execution homework, it should be understood that this is not some kind of strict prohibition, the violation of which will be punished from above. The point is that on this day you should give up work in order to devote time to your family and friends.
Devote yourself to pious thoughts about God, celebrate, be with your loved ones.
Ban on working in Easter days is not canonical, it is most likely just a pious custom.
We all know that household chores and daily chores are integral parts of every person’s life. And giving up these troubles is not always easy. If you don’t have the opportunity to completely abandon these chores, you can devote some time to them on holidays.
However, try to do this wisely. So as not to spend a holiday bogged down in washing floors or dishes. And even more so, you shouldn’t start general cleaning or painting window frames on Easter. Well, you see, these matters can be postponed until later.
What should be in an Easter basket
So, the bright holiday of Great Easter is coming.
Many of us follow the pleasant tradition of gathering on Easter night with our closest and dearest people, usually members of our family.
We fill our baskets with food that we have prepared in advance and go to church service.
But what can you not find in Easter basket: Easter cakes, eggs, meat products, fish dishes, salt, horseradish, water, wine. Each family has its own list of products that they consider necessary to place in the basket.
However, many of us fill it incorrectly. So what should you put in Easter basket, and what should you give up?
You need to remember the basic rule that the basket should contain only 4 main elements; you should not overload it with everything.
KULICH
Kulich is the main attribute of Holy Easter. It symbolizes the body of Christ and is also a symbol of the kingdom of heaven.
Most of us are accustomed to pyramid-shaped paskhas; it is this shape that resembles Golgotha, the place where Christ was crucified.
EGGS
Easter eggs are a symbol of new life.
The custom of dyeing eggs has its roots in ancient times. Tradition says that Mary Magdalene turned to the ruler Tiberius. As a gift she brought an ordinary egg, and also told him the news of the resurrection of Christ.
However, Tiberius did not believe what the woman said. Moreover, according to him, “people cannot rise from the dead, just as a white egg cannot suddenly turn red.” Legend has it that it was after this phrase that the egg suddenly turned bright red.
DAIRY
White color is a symbol of purity and pure love. Dairy products symbolize the Almighty's love for people.
MEAT PRODUCTS
Regarding presence in the basket meat products, Christ is identified with the sacrificial lamb. He was also sacrificed for the sake of humanity and for the salvation of the human soul.
In addition, horseradish root and salt are also added to the Easter basket. Horseradish is associated with the homeland, and salt with financial wealth in family.
Don't forget about the candle. It should also be present in the Easter basket. If the housewife wants to show her imagination, she can decorate the basket with flowers, ribbons, blessed willow branches, or use other decorative elements.
And the last thing: you cannot take it to a church service. alcoholic drinks. After all, religion does not approve of drinking alcohol.
Various alcoholic drinks have nothing to do with the great church holidays. You shouldn't even put Cahors in the basket. Also make sure that there is no knife or other sharp objects in it.
It is also worth remembering that products that were consecrated in the church should under no circumstances be thrown away and placed in a bucket. What to do then with leftover food? It is recommended to distribute food to those who need it. And the Easter cake crumbs should be placed in a bird feeder.
Easter - main holiday Christian. It symbolizes joy eternal life, grace.
How to behave correctly on Easter
Previously, people gathered for worship in a temple, church or ordinary home throughout the entire Easter week. We tried to be pious, merciful, and do as many good deeds as possible. Some rulers even released criminals from prison on this day.
It was customary to distribute food to the poor and give alms. The day before, it is important to tune in to compassion, to empathize with Christ and the path that he walked.
The blessing of products began on Saturday after the Divine Liturgy. Pieces of prosphora, candle stubs and dilapidated parts of icons that have become unusable - these consecrated objects are usually destroyed in a special way: burned in a church oven or buried in a clean place. But blessed products - egg shells, inedible parts of meat dishes - can be safely thrown into a bucket.
Believers try to take communion on this day. But this can be done on any day when the Divine Liturgy is served, having previously prepared.
The whole Easter week is like one day Happy Easter. Therefore, if you did not have time to go to church on Sunday, you can come any day during the week.
At this time, people greet each other with the words “Christ is Risen!” and answer “Truly He is Risen!”
Easter cake
You should break your fast gradually on this day. Especially if you kept the fast.
The first food that needs to be taken is Easter cake, blessed in the church. Easter eggs are the symbol of the Holy Day. They identify the bread that Christ blessed at the Last Supper.
They were also prepared, as a rule, in a quadrangular shape. She symbolized Golgotha.
Egg for Easter
The Easter tradition also has long roots. For the first time, a red egg was brought to Emperor Tiberius as a gift by St. Mary Magdalene. The egg symbolizes the triumph of life and hardness - the birth of a new thing, but at the same time the shell is dense.
But they don't have to be red. It is much more important with what thoughts the procedure of dyeing eggs is carried out, as well as internal state with whom people attend church.
Meat dishes for Easter
Meat dishes were prepared in abundance. Traditionally, the table included jellied meat, duck with apples, and boiled pork. But in general, people tried to eat meat dishes not on Easter Sunday, but towards the end Holy Week- on Saturday. Previously, Christians abstained from fatty foods in the first days after fasting. And when they started eating, those foods from which for a long time They refused and started doing it little by little. This rule allowed them to maintain health and adhere to biblical commandments.
It is believed that for festive table You should eat no more than one egg and up to 200 grams of lean meat. Red wine was also drunk very moderately, not exceeding 250 g. Strong alcohol In general, they were not welcome at Easter.
On this day they rejoiced, listened to solemn chants, saw their relatives, rested, helped their neighbors and thanked God.
This is the time when it was necessary to slow down zeal at the everyday level and cultivate the field of the soul, letting the holiday into your heart.
One of the few holidays that is celebrated by most people is Easter. Along with the New Year and birthday, almost everyone celebrates it. Bright Sunday is always celebrated in the spring, its date is calculated by lunar calendar and depends on Lent. This holiday is many hundreds of years old, but the traditions and customs of antiquity are still preserved.
History of Easter in Russia
Before the advent of Christianity, many peoples celebrated the rebirth of nature and the resurrection of their gods in the spring. And in our country there were pagans spring holidays. But with the introduction of Christianity, the traditions of their celebration were moved to Easter. It has been celebrated in Russia since the 10th century and its meaning is joy over the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Housewives start preparing for this holiday a long time ago. The week before the Holy Resurrection of Christ is called passionate. People are busy cleaning and preparing their homes and bodies to welcome him. Housewives clean and wash the house, do laundry and tidy up. At this time, the winter frames were removed and the windows were washed. the last week Lent is the most difficult. Therefore, you also need to clear your thoughts and spend more time in prayer.
In Russia they are still observed. Even non-believers who do not attend church paint eggs, bake Easter cakes and cook delicious dishes. These are the most common Easter symbols in Russia. There are also special customs found only in this country. For example, people visit each other and treat each other to beautiful painted eggs. Only in Russia is this game common: they hit each other sharp ends eggs. It was believed that whoever had it intact would be healthy and happy this year.
For many, Easter is fun party, which symbolizes rebirth and renewal. On this day people congratulate and kiss each other, play funny Games and eat deliciously. To find out the answer to the question, “What date is Easter in Russia,” you can look at orthodox calendar, where the date of the holiday is calculated several years in advance. Usually the date “floats” between April 4 and May 1.
How to spend Easter (how to behave on Easter)
Easter is the main holiday for all Christians, and Orthodox Christians especially love it. On this day we rejoice and triumph - after all, Easter symbolizes the deliverance of people from slavery, eternal life and bliss given to them through the atoning sacrifice of Christ the Savior. The Resurrection of Christ is the basis of Christianity, and this is what the apostles spoke about when they established His church on Earth.
Today, to our great happiness, the traditions of celebrating Easter have been revived in Russia., however, in the USSR everything was different: but most of us were born and raised in those times. How should one behave correctly on Easter, what should believers do, and what is undesirable and unacceptable?
The ancient Christians behaved simply: they Easter week they gathered for Divine services - in a church, if possible, or in an ordinary house - most often. The main thing is that they always sanctified this day with pious deeds, gave alms and generally did charity, as they would say today.
Jesus, having risen, freed all people from death, and the first Christians imitated him in this: for example, some rulers opened prisons and released prisoners - except for criminals.
Ordinary people helped the poor and needy on this day, distributed blessed food to them, thus allowing them to participate in the Bright Holiday. Pious believers still preserve the holy ancient custom: throughout Holy Week they attend divine services in the temple.
Believers today ask priests various questions about Easter, but there are topics that interest almost everyone.
Is it possible to visit cemeteries on Easter Day? What color should they be? Easter eggs? How and what should you eat on Easter, and how much alcohol can you drink?
Is it possible to visit cemeteries on Easter Day?
The tradition of visiting cemeteries on Easter Day arose in the USSR, when the vast majority of the population was simply afraid to go to church. But coming to the cemetery and celebrating Easter there and praying was considered normal. Today everything is different, and we can remember that in the calendar of the Orthodox Church there is a special day of remembrance of the dead - Radonitsa, when you should go to the cemetery. And on Easter day it is better to go to church.
A trip to the cemetery on this day is simply a misunderstanding of the meaning of Easter, symbolizing the victory of life over death, therefore those who consider themselves Orthodox Christians should be spiritually more sensitive and attentive to the teachings of Christ.
Priests who want to help parishioners understand such issues also explain that it doesn’t matter what color the eggs are painted or what exactly is placed on the festive table.
The main thing on Easter is attending divine services: only there, in prayer and love, can one feel and experience the miracle of the Holy Resurrection of Christ.
When should you visit a cemetery?
When should you go to the cemetery to remember the dead? The first day when you can do this is Tuesday of St. Thomas Week - it is called Radonitsa. Under no circumstances should you organize drunken orgies at graves - and this is exactly what happened often in “Soviet” times, and, unfortunately, still happens today.
The most important thing in commemorating the dead is sincere prayer, but commemoration at the table, a monument and even a coffin are just traditions that are not important and necessary for the eternally living soul of a Christian. You can pray for the dead at home, in the cemetery, but the best thing is church commemoration.
At the cemetery, you need to light a candle, and invite a priest to perform the rite of litia - a special intensified prayer for the dead. There are also prayers that can be performed ordinary people- simple Christians. Then you need to put the grave in order, if necessary, or simply honor the memory of the deceased with silence.
There is no need to drink or eat in the cemetery, and you cannot pour alcohol on the grave - this is a direct insult to the deceased; there is no need to leave a shot of vodka with a piece of bread on the grave - this is a custom with pagan roots, not related to Orthodoxy. It is better to distribute food, which is usually also left on graves, to the poor.
What to eat for Easter?
Another frequently asked question: what should and can be eaten on Easter? The priests also note with regret that for many people Easter is not primarily a Great Holiday, but a day when they can finally eat after a long fast.
Easter cake
Meanwhile, one should break the fast gradually, and the first food that can be eaten on Easter is Easter cake, blessed in the church - a symbol of the Holy Holiday. Kulich also symbolizes the bread that Christ himself blessed at the Last Supper, and also the bread that He shared with His disciples after the Resurrection.
Previously, leaven for Easter cakes was specially grown, and the dough prepared with it was fluffy, tender and airy.
You can do this today if you have time, but in any case bake the cakes better at home– then they will radiate warmth and will benefit every family member. Store-bought baked goods are not so soulful, and besides, they use margarine and chemical additives (dyes, flavors) - bakeries do not bake Easter cakes using a special technology.
How to cook Easter Easter cake
For making homemade cake you need to take 6 cups of flour, 3 tbsp. milk, yeast, dilute the dough and put in a warm place. Then 5 yolks are ground with sugar (2 tbsp.), salt (1 tsp.) and seasonings - a vanilla stick, cardamom (10 nuts) or rose oil(2 drops). All this is added to the dough when it is ready, plus 2 more eggs, 0.5 tbsp. slightly warm melted butter, and another 6 tbsp. flour, but the dough should not be too thick. Knead the dough well on the table, add raisins (0.5 tbsp) and leave to rise until the morning.
In the morning it is knocked out again and left to lie for a while. Next, the dough is divided into 2 parts, placed in molds, allowed to rise to ¾ of their height, and baked in the oven or oven. You will get 2 Easter cakes.
In total you will need: flour - 12 glasses, milk (preferably fresh) - 3 tbsp., yeast - 50 g, sugar - 2 tbsp., eggs - 7 pcs., ghee - 0.5 tbsp., raisins - 1.5 tbsp. ., salt - 1 tsp, aromatic seasonings - to taste.
Egg for Easter
As for eggs, today we know where the custom of giving them on Easter came from - few people knew about this in the USSR, but people still painted eggs and gave them to each other.
The red egg was first presented as a gift to Emperor Tiberius by Saint Mary Magdalene, and this also symbolizes the triumph of life, which is born from the egg, although it has a hard shell; and Christ rose from the grave, showing us the miracle of the Resurrection and giving us eternal life. As already said, it is not so important what color the eggs are painted - what matters is what we feel and experience in Holy holiday, attending services in church.
Meat dishes for Easter
For Easter meat dishes, jelly was traditionally prepared: from beef, pork and lamb legs, heads and offal, adding carrots, onions and seasonings. Served with horseradish - this way the dish was better digestible.
Duck (goose) with apples and boiled pork - ham baked with garlic and pepper - were also popular - they were also eaten with herbs and fresh salads.
At all meat dishes It is supposed to eat not on Easter Sunday, but towards the end of Bright Week - on Friday or Saturday, and previously Christians always abstained from fatty and fatty foods. high-calorie food on the first days of the holiday.
This rule is very wise, but in our time it often happens that after Easter, doctors have more work: the number of food poisoning, visits to the doctor with stomach and intestinal disorders, exacerbations of cardiovascular diseases, etc.
At the festive table you can eat no more than one egg, 150-200 g of meat, and it is better to avoid fatty sauces and creams altogether.
Give preference to fish dishes, vegetables, grains and fruits, and exercise moderation and caution when drinking alcohol - a glass of red wine is enough on the first day. As for vodka, then Orthodox Church has never welcomed its use, and even more so on Easter, when pious Christians rejoice, pray and enjoy the richness of the Christian faith, listening to solemn hymns and psalms.
It is best to try to do good deeds these days, helping those who need help; you can relax, be in nature, meet friends, invite guests and visit yourself, but you must always remember the meaning of Easter: the victory of life over death and the joy of Bright Resurrection Christ.
