Easter is one of the most important and great religion holidays in Ukraine. There are a lot of very interesting Easter traditions in Ukraine also. This is the day for praying and speaking with God.
In the past, on this day young men made a fire near the churches and stayed next to it for the whole night, while their mothers, wives and sisters were in the church with Easter cakes.
Also Ukrainians had an interesting tradition with baking Easter cakes. Ukrainian unmarried women were baking paskas with hope for a successful marriage in the nearest future.
Another interesting tradition was climbing to the church tower and ringing the bell. The young men should do it and it was believed that those who made this the loudest, would have the best crop of buckwheat.
The next Monday after Easter, Ukrainian guys should swill girls. On Tuesday, the girls should do the same. At Easter in Ukraine men made a swing for everybody. It was believed that during riding on a swing, people got rid of bad thoughts after winter.
Nowadays, Easter is one of the most favorite holidays for Christians. The night before Easter is the special time. The lent is finished, but until Sunday morning you can not eat meat, make love, laugh loudly, drink alcohol and abuse. This night is the time for praying and purification of your soul.
At Easter you can not work. In fact, the church does not prohibit to work on this day, because a lot of people have to stay at work. In this case, it is not a sin. At the same time, you shouldn’t do the housework, washing, sewing, cleaning, ironing. It is better to make all things before holiday. Easter is a holiday when you can relax.
On Saturday night people gather in churches and cathedrals for the evening service. Usually in Ukraine it begins at 12 a.m. They can also consecrate the Easter eggs, paskas and another meal in the church. After finishing the night service, people come back home and eat. It is great tradition for children to wash their faces with the Easter eggs in the water.
Easter is the family holiday, but a lot of people meet with their friends and congratulate each other with the words “Christ is Risen!” and they should answer “Truly He is Risen!”
There are many opinions about how to celebrate Easter. Someone likes to stay at home and cook a lot of meal, and someone goes to church first of all.
Easter is the great time for picnics and going to countryside. It is very interesting to prepare everything to this holiday. Children like to decorate Easter eggs and strew the tops of the paskas with varicolored powder. In Ukraine there is no Easter bunny and egg-rolling tradition, but children can hit their eggs with each other. Usually it is public holiday and people don’t work on this day.