Easter traditions in Ukraine
Easter traditions in Ukraine have united in the old customs of the day of the spring equinox.
Preparing for Easter in Ukraine begins in advance, when they observe a long Lent. The last week before Easter was called Bela - during this week they cleaned the house, washed all the surfaces and decorated the hut with towels. On Maundy Thursday before Easter, the whole family washed.
For Easter in Ukraine they prepare ritual pastries - paski. More eggs are added to the pasta so that the dough is saturated yellow - this symbolizes the Sun. From above, paskas were decorated with figures of birds and flowers, which meant spring and fertility.
During the baking of pasok, the housewives forbade the household to walk near the oven, ventilate the room and slam the door - it was believed that the dough would not rise due to a draft. It was considered a good omen if the paska rises high and bakes evenly - this means happiness and well-being for the whole family.
Another symbol of Easter in Ukraine is the willow. Branches and willows are brought into the house for Palm Week, and then they decorate the house with them for Easter. Why willow? The fact is that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the locals greeted him by throwing palm branches on the road. Since palm trees do not grow in Ukraine, they were replaced by willows.The third well-known symbol of Easter is krashanka. Painted and painted eggs symbolize life, the sun and resurrection. In Ukraine, the art of Easter eggs and Easter eggs is well developed.
On Easter day itself, it is customary to collect various products, paska and krashanki in a basket. All families go to church for worship and sanctify food there. Then at home the whole family sits down at the festive table, and the meal always begins with an Easter egg. Pasques have been turned into a recipe and they are trying so that not a single crumb falls to the floor.