EASTER.
Easter is the feast of the resurrection of Christ.
It is celebrated according to the Moon calendar on the first Sunday after the first spring
full Moon. The Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches use the Julian calendar, so Easter in
Ukraine does not coincide with Easter in the countries with other Christian churches.
It is on a Sunday between the 4th of April and 8th of May. In Ukraine Easter has been celebrated over a long period of history and has had many rich traditions.
The week before Easter, the Great Week, is called White or Pure Week. During this time effort is made to finish all field work before Thursday. On the evening of pure Thursday the passion service is performed, after which people return home with lighted candles.
The last Sunday before Easter is called Willow Sunday. On this day pussy-willow branches are blessed in the church. Easter begins with the matins and high mass, during which the pasky (traditional Easter breads), pysanky and krashanky (decorated or coloured Easter eggs) are blessed in the Church. Butter, lard, cheese, roast suckling pigs, sausage, smoked meat and little napkins, containing poppy seeds, horse-radish and other provisions are also blessed. After the matins the people exchange Easter greetings, give each other krashanky and then hurry home with their baskets of blessed food. Easter is a feast of joy and gladness. For three days people celebrate it. Nowadays Easter has been proclaimed a national holiday in Ukraine.
Gregoryeva Alla(16 years) Taskaeyva Ann (15 years)
school-gymnasium no55,Kharkov,Ukraine.