Easter in Russia, as in other countries, is a holiday of holidays, a triumph of celebrations. But today the world is rapidly changing, and most importantly, that which remains unchanged is fading into the background. Rarely today, young people, especially in megacities, understand the significance of the Easter holiday, go to confession and sincerely support centuries-old traditions. But Easter is the main Orthodox holiday, bringing light and joy to entire nations, to the families and souls of every believer.
What is Easter?
Christians mean by the word "Easter" "the passage from death to life, from earth to heaven." Forty days, believers keep fasting and celebrate Easter in honor of Jesus' victory over death.
Jewish Passover is pronounced “Passover” (the Hebrew word) and means “passed by, passed”. The roots of this word go back to the history of the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery.
The New Testament says that those who receive Jesus are destroyed.
In some languages, the word is pronounced "Pisha." This is the Aramaic name that has spread in some languages ​​of Europe and has survived to this day.
No matter how the word is uttered, the essence of Easter does not change; for all believers this is the most important triumph. Bright holiday, bringing joy and hope to the hearts of believers throughout the Earth.
The history of the holiday before the birth of Christ, or the Old Testament Easter
The holiday was born long before the birth of Christ, but the significance of the Easter holiday in those days was very great for the Jewish people.
History says that once the Jews were in captivity among the Egyptians. A lot of bullying, misfortune and oppression suffered slaves from their masters. But faith in God, the hope of salvation and God's mercy always lived in their hearts.
Once a man came to them by the name of Moses, who was sent to save him with his brother. The Lord chose Moses to instruct the Egyptian pharaoh and save the Jewish people from slavery.
But no matter how Moses tried to convince Pharaoh to let people go, freedom was not granted to them. The Egyptian pharaoh and his people did not believe in God, worshiping only their deities and relying on the help of sorcerers. To prove the existence and power of the Lord, nine terrible executions were brought down on the Egyptian people. No bloody rivers, no toads, no midges, no flies, no darkness, no thunder — none of this could have happened if the ruler had let the people go with his cattle.
The last, tenth execution, like the previous ones, punished Pharaoh and his people, but did not affect the Jews. Moses warned that every family should slaughter a one-year-old immaculate male lamb. With the blood of an animal, anoint the doors of their houses, bake a lamb and eat it with the whole family.
At night, all the first-born males in the houses among people and animals were euthanized. Only the houses of the Jews, where there was a bloody mark, did not affect the trouble. Since then, “Easter” means - passing by, past.
This execution greatly frightened the pharaoh, and he released the slaves with all their herds. The Jews went to the sea, where the water opened, and they calmly set off along its bottom. But Pharaoh wanted to break his promise again and rushed after them, but his water swallowed.
Jews began to celebrate the liberation from slavery and their families passing executions, calling the holiday Easter. The history and significance of the feast of Easter is captured in the Bible, the book “Exodus”.
New Testament Easter
In the land of Israel, Virgin Mary was born of Jesus Christ, who was destined to save human souls from the slavery of hell. At thirty, Jesus began to preach, telling people about the laws of God. But three years later, he was crucified along with other unwanted authorities on the cross, which was installed on Mount Calvary. This happened after Passover, on Friday, which was subsequently dubbed Passion. This event complements the meaning of Easter with a new meaning, traditions and attributes.
Christ, like a lamb, was slain, but his bones remained intact, and this became His sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
Some more history
On the eve of the crucifixion, on Thursday, the Last Supper took place , where Jesus presented bread as his body and wine as blood. Since then, the significance of the Easter holiday has not changed, but the Eucharist has become a new Easter meal.
At first, the holiday was weekly. Friday was the day of sorrow and the beginning of fasting, and Sunday was the day of joy.
In 325, at the First Ecumenical Council, the date of the celebration of Easter was determined - on the first Sunday after the spring full moon. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar. To calculate what day Easter falls on a certain year, you need to make a rather complicated calculation. But for ordinary laity, a calendar of holiday dates has been compiled for decades to come.
Over the long time the holiday has existed, it has become overgrown with traditions, which to this day are held in families, and signs.
Great Lent
Easter in Russia is one of the main holidays even for those people who are very rare in church. Today, in the era of high technology and urbanization, among generations who prefer computers to lively communication, the church is slowly losing its power over the hearts and souls of people. But almost everyone, regardless of age and strength of faith, knows what Lent is.
Traditions are passed on by older generations in families. It’s rarely decided to stick to the entire post; more often than not, in the last week, people have somehow followed the rules.
For 40 days, believers should eat without eating animal products (and on some days fasting is stricter), not drink alcohol, pray, confess, receive communion, do good, and not slander.
Great Lent ends Holy Week. Easter service is of particular importance and scope. In modern Russia, services are broadcast live on central channels. In every church, even the smallest village, candles are lit all night and chants are sung. Millions of parishioners all over the country do not sleep all night, pray, attend services, place candles, hallow food and water. And the fast ends on Sunday, after all the church ceremonies. The fasting sit at the table and celebrate Easter.
Easter greeting
Since childhood, we have been teaching children that when greeting a person on this holiday, one must say: “Christ is Risen!” And answer these words: “Truly Risen!” To find out more about what this is connected with, you need to turn to the Bible.
The essence of Easter is the passage of Jesus to his Father. The story goes that Jesus was crucified on Friday (Passion). The body was removed from the cross and buried. The coffin is a cave hollowed out in a rock, covered with a huge stone. The bodies of the dead (there were still victims) were wrapped in cloths and mopped with incense. But they did not have time to perform the rite with the body of Jesus, because according to Jewish laws, working on Saturday is strictly prohibited.
Women - followers of Christ - on Sunday morning went to his tomb to perform the ceremony themselves. An angel came down to them, who informed them that Christ had risen. Easter from now on will be the third day - the day of the resurrection of Christ.
Entering the tomb, the women became convinced of the words of the angel and brought this message to the apostles. And they reported this good news to everyone. All believers and unbelievers should have known that the impossible happened, what Jesus said was happening - Christ was resurrected.
Easter: traditions of different countries
In many countries of the world, believers paint eggs and bake Easter cakes. There are a lot of recipes for Easter cakes, and in different countries they also differ in form. Of course, this is not the essence of Easter, but these are the traditions that have been accompanying the festival for many centuries.
In Russia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, they “beat” with colored eggs.
In Greece, on the Friday prior to Easter, working with a hammer and nails is considered a great sin. At midnight from Saturday to Sunday, after the solemn service, when the priest proclaims "Christ is Risen!", The night sky is illuminated by a grandiose firework.
In the Czech Republic on Monday following Easter Sunday, the girls are whipped as a compliment. And they can pour water over the young man.
Australians make chocolate Easter eggs and figures of different animals.
Ukrainian Easter eggs are called "Easter eggs". Pure white eggs are given to children as a symbol of their long and bright life path. And the elderly - dark eggs with a complex pattern, as a sign that in their life there were many difficulties.
Easter in Russia brings light and miracles to the homes of believers. Sanctified Easter eggs are often credited with miraculous power. On Sunday morning, when washing, the consecrated egg is placed in a basin with water, and each member of the family should wash it, rubbing his cheeks and forehead.
The red Easter egg has a special symbolism. In Greece, red is the color of sorrow. Red eggs symbolize the tomb of Jesus, and broken ones symbolize open tombs and the Resurrection.
Signs for Easter
Each nation has its own unique signs associated with this day. Modern people do not always believe in them, but it is interesting to know about it.
For some nations, it is considered a good omen on Easter night to swim in the spring and bring this water to the house.
On the eve of Easter, they clean up houses, cook, bake, but in many countries it is considered a sin to work on Saturday. In Poland, Easter signs prohibit housewives from working on Friday, otherwise the whole village will be left without a crop.