Hello, friends!

It's no secret that Easter is one of the most revered holidays for Christians. They are waiting for it, preparing for it: someone collects onion peel to paint eggs, someone makes crafts, someone looks for interesting culinary recipes, and so on. How are you preparing for Easter?

It is also well known that in Europe (in Catholic countries) and Russia the same Christian holidays are celebrated in different ways and on different dates. So, for example, in Germany in 2018, Easter will be celebrated on April 1, and in Russia on April 8.

In Europe, Easter is loved: both in Catholic and Orthodox countries, and many interesting, strange, and sometimes even funny customs are associated with the celebration of the main Christian celebration. Naturally, from country to country they can be different. In this short article, I have collected some of these traditions.

Strange Easter customs in Europe

You probably know about the rabbit that brings eggs for Easter. Perhaps this tradition came from the time of the celebration of the Celtic spring equinox - Ostara, and perhaps not. We will not talk about this today, but go over the lesser known customs of different countries.

Bulgaria: egg fight

In Bulgaria, Easter is called Velikden and they start painting eggs there in advance, on Maundy Thursday. But the most remarkable Bulgarian Easter tradition is throwing eggs at each other. This is a kind of fortune-telling, because the one whose egg does not break will have a good year.

And also, the oldest women in the family take a colored egg and roll it in the face of the kids. It is believed that this will bring health, beauty and strength to the child.

The Swedes believe that the holidays should be celebrated outside the city, Easter in this case is no exception. On the very first long weekend in spring, most people in Sweden go to their country houses, where the whole family gathers.

It is important to clean, heat and decorate the house for the holiday. They attach special importance to smoke and fire, birch twigs and feathers. A famous Swedish Easter tradition is decorating birch twigs with feathers, which, according to legend, should hasten the arrival of spring.

It is also worth noting that it is not a chicken that brings eggs for Easter, and not even an Easter rabbit, but a rooster. And Swedish kids dress up in costumes, go from house to house and collect sweets.

In Holland, on the second day of Easter, in many furniture stores you can see huge queues and the same discounts. Such a tradition - to buy new furniture or something for the interior.

And yet, following an old custom, the Dutch burn fires for Easter. Of course, not only them, but their fire was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest.

England: we carry men in our arms

The British celebrate Easter cheerfully: they dance, give chocolate eggs, bake special buns with raisins, stroke willow branches. It is believed that if you touch a fluffy willow bud, you will be happy.

And before, there was a funny custom to carry each other in their arms. On Easter Monday, men wore women, and on Tuesday, vice versa.

Ireland: Herring Funeral

Close neighbors of the British - the Irish, like the Swedes, like to celebrate Easter in nature. In some villages, entire processions are organized in the meadows.

In Ireland, there is a strange Easter custom - after the end of the 40-day fast, bury herring, which is eaten instead of meat throughout this time.

In Latvia, Easter is bright and very beautiful: after all, it is customary to decorate their houses with birch and hazel twigs with earrings, fluffy willow, spring flowers, straw crafts.

And in Latvia, they arrange riding on a large swing, which is installed in an open, spacious place and festively decorated. This is not just fun - it is also a way to attract the attention of spirits. There is a belief that the higher the festive swing takes off, the better the harvest will be this year.

Latvian Easter festivities include traditional folk dancing and singing folk songs.

Easter Monday in Poland has another name "wet" or "watering" Monday. Young people on this day pour water over each other from buckets, tubs and troughs. Guys girls and vice versa.

The ritual "smigus-dyngus" recalls a significant event - the baptism of Prince Mieszko I in 966, who converted Poland to Christianity.

Plus, it's a way to show affection. And the more beautiful the girl (or guy), the more they got. Some young people even prefer not to leave the house on this day.

By the way, in Poland, as well as in Ireland, they arrange a “funeral” for food products that have become boring during the fast.

But in the Czech Republic, women are beaten on Easter. Of course it's symbolic, don't worry. The Czechs weave special “pigtails” from willow branches, decorate them with ribbons, and use them to quilt the beautiful half of humanity. According to legend, such a "spanking" helps to maintain health, youth and beauty.

Ladies who have not been given beauty and youth can take revenge by pouring water on men from head to toe.

Italy: silence

Italy during the celebration of Easter changes - usually noisy and cheerful, it becomes quiet and calm. Easter is a family holiday for Italians, and usually after the speech of the Pope, which he says in the Vatican Square in 60 languages, everyone starts a traditional breakfast. On the tables this morning there are usually eggs, cheese cake, sausage or roast goat.

Although, despite the fact that most Italians celebrate Easter with their families, this is not necessary. In Italy, there is a saying on this topic: “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi” (Christmas with family, and Easter with anyone).

That's where they can scare you, so it's in Spain. In general, the Spaniards honor traditions very much, they honor them so much that some of them are still not much modified. This also applies to the so-called "penitent processions".

In Spain, on Easter on the streets of the city you can see people dressed in strange and barefoot. Groups dressed in long robes and long pointed caps that cover their faces walk the streets of Spanish cities.

They symbolize repentant sinners. This is such a way to ask for forgiveness of sins.

Greece: fire fun

In Greece, Easter is celebrated in much the same way as the New Year in Russia. With fireworks and fireworks, fun and colorful. But meanwhile, Greek Easter is also the most important religious holiday in the country.

In Greece, there is an Easter custom - to go to church with white candles. At midnight, all but one are extinguished. It symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. Then candles are lit again from her fire.

The Germans love Easter, celebrate it brightly and "sweetly", and prepare for it in advance: they decorate willow branches with painted Easter eggs, and then put them, for example, in vases. As in many European countries, the Friday before Easter (Holy) and the Monday after it (Easter) are official days off.

Good Friday itself is the quietest holiday. It is not accepted to make noise, all entertainment establishments of the country, as well as shops and others like them, do not work.

And in some German towns, they first clean and then decorate wells and fountains. Decorate charmingly: ribbons, painted plastic eggs, twigs and flowers. This emphasizes the great importance of water for all living things.

On Easter Sunday, children go in search of eggs and a basket of sweets, which, according to legend, the bunny brings.

By the way, a few weeks before Easter, almost all German cities host Easter fairs where you can buy gifts for friends and relatives.

France: silence of the bells

In France, for several days, from Maundy Thursday until Easter, church bells do not ring. There is even a legend that the bells are silent because they went to Rome. This is done as a sign of mourning for Christ. On Sunday, the cities are filled with bells. And this is a reason for joy, mourning is over.

But the French kids go in search of eggs only on Monday. In France, the Easter egg hunt is called "la chasse aux oeufs" and is, like in Germany, a favorite Easter pastime for children.

In fact, each country has its own Easter customs and traditions. Everywhere so different, and at the same time, so similar. And to us, out of habit, they may seem very strange.

On this, perhaps, everything. See you soon.

As we know from the Bible, Moses led the Jews out of the wasteland at Passover.
It is not known, taking into account all the cheating with historical dates and eras, when it was, but one thing is clear: the holiday was at a time when there was no bible yet.
In German, Easter is called Oster, in English - Easter Los Angeles: Sunny days in store through Easter Sunday
Holiday of the East, dawn, dawn. Modern religious propagandists erect the name to the goddess of the dawn Eos, although this version is frankly absurd and is the fruit of the invention of one troubled monk, and has no other historical roots.

By the way, the holiday of the spring equinox has been called Ostara since ancient times.
In the West, in general, much more traditions of antiquity have been preserved. For example, in our country, it seems like the European name "year" has been replaced by the Russian "summer" or "harvest", in the meaning of a new cycle. But in Europe they did not hear about the year. There are "year" options everywhere, which is the analogue of the crop.
There is a suspicion that Russia was a field of experiment, where new foreign traditions were introduced, taking advantage of difficult conditions, perhaps after the catastrophe and the change of power.
Try to ban the name when the people live their lives! Let them send and speak in the old way.
Traditions are very strong, especially the ancient names.

Interestingly, in Latin, auster means south...

Since the time of Jacob Grimm, the name of Eostra (Ostara) has traditionally been associated with the Proto-Germanic *austrōn "dawn", going back to the common Indo-European root *h₂wes- "shine, shine". The name derived from this stem (reconstructed as *h₂ewsṓs, in a simplified notation *Ausōs) was apparently worn by one of the main goddesses of the Proto-Indo-European pantheon - the goddess of dawn. Greek Eos (Ἕως, Ἠώς), Roman Aurora (Aurora), Latvian Austra (Austra), Lithuanian Aushrine (Aušrinė), Vedic Ushas (उषस्; uṣas) ascend to this image. From the same basis, a common German word was formed, meaning "east" (English East, German Ost, Dutch Oost, Swedish Öster; compare Latin auster "south" of the same origin).

If you remember, in the work of M. Chulkov "Rusak, or the Tale of Siloslav" it is also mentioned that the Varangian Sea was not in the west, as it is now from St. Petersburg.

Jacob Grimm wrote in German Mythology:

We Germans still call April ostermonat; ôstarmânoth is also found in Einhard. The great Christian holiday, which is usually celebrated in April or early March, is called in the oldest ancient German texts ôstarâ ... It must be that in the pagan religion the name Ostara, like the Anglo-Saxon Eostra, belonged to a great deity, the veneration of which was so strong that Christian sermons resigned themselves to this named after one of their main celebrations. Among all neighboring peoples, this holiday bears a name derived from the Greek pascha; even Ulfilas writes paska, not áustrô, although he may have known the word.

Grimm considered such Easter customs as painting eggs, lighting fires, special festive games and dances as vestiges of the ancient pagan cult of Ostara. Comparing the name Ostara with the Old High German dialect ôstar, "expressing movement towards the rising sun," he concludes that Ostara was the goddess of "the radiant dawn, the rising sun." Modern research in comparative mythology and linguistics in general supports this assumption.

Here we see more than one interesting observation!
First, scholars confirm Ostara's oriental connotations. Secondly, the primacy of the ancient holiday, in comparison with the Christian one. Thirdly, the borrowing of the name and essence of the holiday by Western Christianity!
It is worth remembering both the country of Austria and the Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths), who were Atilla's allies in the war with the Visigoths and the Romans, in particular, in the battle of the Catalaunian Fields, one of the greatest battles of antiquity (territorially - in the modern province of Champagne).
The Ostrogoths, or Ostrogoths, inhabited the entire territory of Germany and Austria. While the Huns of Atilla, related to the Ostrogoths, settled further south, in Hungary (Hungary).
The Ostara variant, as we see among the British, is Istar, Istra.
Archaeological finds confirm:

In 1958, about 150 votive tablets from the turn of the 1st-2nd centuries were discovered in Germany. n. e., dedicated to the goddesses, called matronae Austriahenae.

However, both Ishtar and her Sumerian variant, Inanna, also have a similar name and mythology!

Holding night vigils and meeting the dawn on Easter is another sign of the ancient solar holiday, connected with the onset of Dawn, in a broad sense. After all, the Spring Equinox marks the end of winter, the beginning of a period of growth, the resurrection of Nature, the productive forces of the Earth!
Also in the geographical concept, the east is associated with dawn, dawn; north - with cold and winter, south - with summer and heat, and west - with sunset, autumn, harvest and dying.
What is well reflected in the symbolism of the "Wheel of the Year".

Actually, even Russia was called Osterreich by the Germans! Which can be equivalently translated both as "State of the East" and as "Land of the Rising Sun" :)
And this is true, since the Sun rises precisely over the vast expanses of Eurasia, and not over tiny Japan. And the country of the Rising Sun is Russia!
Therefore, it is logical if the population of Germany and Austria came from the east (Oster), received the name "Ostrogoths" and brought the holiday of their homeland with them ... And then someone will come and take it away?

However, the name "Easter" also came from the East, and, apparently, is just a variant of the same holiday. Listen to it, what do you hear? Easter, Easter. Graze! :) Even Ulfilas, the Gothic bishop, used to say "Pasca". This is an ancient Indo-European word, not at all Greek. "Pasha" is not by chance so similar to "shepherd", this is the shepherd! And until now in Hinduism, this word sounds exactly like that. Pashupati is a shepherd god. We can say the same "bestial god")) The difference in the words "those who graze" and "the one who grazes" is minimal.
So why is Easter something like that, you ask?! Well, shepherds, and what? Again, Christian symbolism, sort of like?
Eh, it’s immediately obvious that a herd of cows has not been driven past your house since Easter! ;) The time when the grass rises and when the cattle are taken outside... With all the precautions and rituals ; This is a very important event for the peasants!
But one thing is a fixed holiday, another is a walking full moon; the third is the actual growth of the grass.
In Europe, for example, potatoes can be planted in February. And to graze cattle on Ostara. In the Volgoda region, snow can lie on Easter ... And the grazing is pushed back not only until Yegoriev's day, but even until the first decade of May ...
In addition, earlier the climate was clearly different in a warmer direction. See at least a photo of the beginning of the 20th century on Red Square. In winter, there are palm trees, people are dressed in summer.
On the other hand, since ancient times, the holiday has been dedicated to the mother goddess and her lover, the shepherd! So it is likely that there are two variants of the name of the holiday, according to the figure that was considered the main one: either a shepherd (Easter), or an eastern goddess (Ostara)
So, we figured out the name. Now what is the essence of the holiday.

In ancient times, very many pagans living in the territories adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea celebrated a big holiday on the day of the Spring Equinox or close to it. Then in many countries the cult of the Dying God was widespread, whose death was mourned annually, and whose resurrection was rejoiced in the spring. In Phrygia it was Attis, in Western Asia and Greece - Adonis (Tammuz), in Egypt - Osiris. The listed gods had the same meaning among the people. I'll stick with Attis. Attis was the lover of Cybele, the Phrygian goddess of fertility. He was the god of ever-reviving vegetation. According to legend, Attis was born a virgin. He was torn to pieces by a wild boar and after death turned into a pine tree. Around 200 AD, mystery cults began to appear in Rome, just as they had previously appeared in Greece. The Romans held a ritual feast of Cybele and Attis every spring. This holiday proceeded as follows:

March 22, they cut down in the forest pine, brought to the sanctuary of Cybele and treated her like a great deity. A figurine of Attis was tied to the middle of the trunk. On the second day of the holiday, March 23, they were mainly engaged in blowing trumpets. The third day was called Bloody. On this day, the high priest opened his veins on his arm, and other priests inflicted wounds on themselves, spattering the altar and the sacred tree with blood. It was a kind of mourning for Attis. Then his figurine was buried. With the onset of night, i.e. On the third day of the holiday, grief was replaced by an explosion of jubilation, light flashed in the darkness, the grave opened, and God rose from the dead. All day on March 25, which was considered the day of the Spring Equinox, believers indulged in unrestrained fun. In Rome, this festival took the form of a carnival called the Feast of Joy. And March 26 was a day of rest. The holiday in Rome ended on March 27 with a procession to the river Almona. (This is a brief retelling of the celebration; for a fuller version, as well as descriptions of the cults of Adonis, Osiris and Dionysus, see the book by J. Frazer "The Golden Bough").

Christians celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus on the same date, and pagans and Christians often quarreled over which of their gods was the true hero of the occasion and which was an imitation. Many scholars of religion believe that the legends of death and resurrection were first associated with Attis, many centuries before the birth of Jesus. These legends were simply superimposed on stories about the life of Jesus to make Christian theology more acceptable to pagans. Modern Christians generally regard the legend of Attis as a pagan myth of little significance. They believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus as a truth that has nothing to do with earlier traditions.

Bas-relief 2-1 centuries BC - rectangular altar, tree with cones, entwined with a snake, the seated goddess Cybele with two lions with a tympanum in hand. In the other hand, Cybele holds a ritual cup phiale (phiale) with a concave part in the center. On the head of Cybele is a traditional crown in the form of city towers.. On the left is Attis on a horse, images of a dog and a boar. According to one of the legends, Attis was torn to pieces by a boar, like Adonis, therefore, the adherents of the cult of Cybele-Attis did not eat pork .
It is not for nothing that bread and wine appear in church rituals: wine has been associated with God since ancient times, and bread with the Goddess. Just like the yolk of an egg with the solar god, and the white with the White (lunar) Goddess.

The Temple of St. Peter (Stone) in the Vatican was formerly the temple of Cybele, in which her Sacred Black Stone was kept (hence the name of the cathedral):

Saint Peter is considered the key-keeper, who holds the keys to the gates of paradise. You can see that the composition of the cathedral and the adjacent alley depicts a key hole. But isn't it strange that in the very heart, in the center of the hole, there is an Egyptian obelisk brought by Bonaparte from a campaign?
Think about it, in the most sacred place, the geometric and symbolic center, there is a pagan monument, like a key to a keyhole!
Yes, it looks more like the Kaaba! Isn't there, by the way, the stone of Cybele, eh?
In any case, this stone acts as a key element. Key to heaven's door

Since childhood, for us, Russian, Orthodox, Easter has been associated with the majestic bell ringing of churches, the warm fire of thousands of candles and the encouraging: “Christ is Risen!”. And also - with a sweet curd Easter, honey cake and painted eggs, a day off and the opportunity to visit each other without an invitation. Solemnly celebrate in Western countries the Day of the return of Jesus Christ from the kingdom of the dead to the world of the living. But they, from childhood, have completely different (albeit also very bright) associations with Easter. For the West of Europe, the USA, Mexico and other countries, the Great Resurrection of Christ means chocolate eggs, Easter baskets with a wide variety of sweets, the opportunity to finally get rid of the Christmas tree and spank the girl you like with impunity with a palm branch. So what do they and we have in common? And what is the fundamental difference? The culture of the world in the context of Easter through the eyes of Dikmi!

GREAT LENT BEFORE EASTER

Both the Russian Orthodox Church and the confessions of the Roman Catholic religious rite before Easter established a forty-day (in memory of the Great Lent of the Savior himself in the wilderness) period of abstinence from mass entertainment events, meat food, and sex. Although, the Catholic Great Lent concept is very loyal both to the stomachs and to the souls of believers. Rome allows its wards to eat eggs, fish, seafood and dairy during fasting. Even Catholics are strictly required to abstain from meat only on Ash Wednesday (the day the fast begins) and Good Friday. As for the Orthodox, their fasting begins two days earlier than that of Catholics (on Clean Monday), implies a strict ban on food of animal origin (meat, eggs, dairy products, and even fish) and lasts exactly forty days. There are also differences in the time of the end of the fast (permission for entertainment events and dances). Rome already considers Holy Thursday to be the beginning of Easter fun, and the Russian Orthodox Church considers Holy Week (until midnight of the Great Resurrection) to be the most mournful and strict period of abstinence. And only from 12 at night, when the priest opens the Royal Doors and announces to the world: “Christ is Risen!”, You can change the fast for fun, black mourning clothes for white festive dresses.

EASTER DATE

Easter Day is established annually and has the status of a "transitional" holiday of both the Catholic and Orthodox calendars. The date in both ritual cycles depends on the day of the vernal equinox. Only when determining this day, the Christians of the Eastern Church (Orthodox) use the Julian calendar, while the believers of the Western Church use the Gregorian. Because - the difference (as in the celebration of Christmas) is about 13 days. However, in practice, a difference of two weeks is almost never respected. Usually, the interval between Catholic and Orthodox Easter is one, four, and even five weeks (as in the current, 2013). Catholics have already honored the Risen Christ on March 31, while the Orthodox will celebrate Easter only on May 5. Such a difference, according to the researchers, is associated not only with the astronomical lunar cycle, but also with other systems of complex calculations. Orthodox calculations of the date of Easter are based on the Paschal tables (created in the 4th century), while Catholics are more guided by the formulas adopted at the Council of Nicaea (in the same, 4th century).

WILLOW BRANCHES AND PALM LEAVES

Palm Sunday (Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem) marks the beginning of Holy Week and is equally revered by both Catholics and Orthodox. True, there are some slight differences in the very ceremony of celebrating Palm Sunday. For example, Catholics prefer to echo the Gospel tradition, in which there is a mention of how Jesus enters Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of the city greet him as the "King of Israel", lining the way for him with their clothes and palm branches. To this day, Western believers carry palm branches to church on this day, signifying the hope that life will triumph over death this time too. Christians of the Eastern rite, Palm Sunday, are called the “Week of Vay” and do not consecrate palm leaves, but willow branches.

MASS PROCESSIONS AND COMMON EASTER LUNCHES

Countries professing Catholicism have long been known for their love for all sorts of mysteries and large-scale mass processions. The great Easter holiday is no exception. Western Christians believe that the only way to help people feel the essence of the Tragedy and the scale of the Pardon is to recreate the real picture of those sad events - the crucifixion of Christ - mourning - the miraculous Resurrection - the great joy of all people.

While the Orthodox of Russia are trying on the mournful night of Friday to attend a divine service in the church, and then hasten to share the joy of the Resurrection of Christ with the poor, the poor, the destitute, organizing a hearty common meal for them in the churchyard.

RUSSIAN PYSANKI AND WESTERN PAINTED EGGS

What is the difference between pysanky and painted Easter eggs? Without delving into the ethnic details of the centuries-old Slavic culture, we can simply explain: "pysanka carries a symbolic meaning, a cosmic message hidden in lines, paintings, graphic ciphers of ornament, and a painted egg is simply a symbol of life as such, a synonym for the constant rebirth of nature." In the West, Easter eggs are dyed by dipping them in different colors of food coloring. Among other things, games with Easter eggs are very popular here (for example, “Easter hunting”, when the kids go out in the morning, on the day of the Resurrection of Christ, and collect chocolate eggs in bright wrappers in the yard, laid out the day before by caring parents). In Russia, pisanki is a ritual dish, which is treated with due respect and reverence. Even the shells from Easter eggs are not customary to throw in the trash. It is mixed into the feed for chickens and other poultry so that they rush better and do not get sick. In addition, great attention in our country is paid to the very ceremony of decorating the Easter egg. There are whole schools of Easter eggs, sets of tools for this craft and entire museums, which (especially on Easter Eve) hospitably open their doors to numerous tourists.

And one more feature of Russian Easter eggs. Unlike Western, multi-colored ones, we paint them mainly in red (symbolizing the Blood of Jesus Christ and at the same time the great joy of the Resurrection). When the base dries, an ornament is applied to the egg.

RUSSIAN KULICHI AND WESTERN SMALL CINNAMON BUNS

Traditionally, housewives in Russia bake sweet bread of an unusual, round shape for the Easter holiday, which is called Easter cake, or paska. It is customary to water the top of such breads with egg whites whipped with powdered sugar and sprinkle with multi-colored caramel, decorate with candied fruits. A few pieces of consecrated willow are necessarily placed in the dough for Easter cake.

In the West, there is no single tradition for all Catholic countries associated with Easter baking. In Rome, it is customary to eat small cinnamon buns for breakfast on Great Sunday, decorated with fruit (or - from powdered sugar with spices) crosses. In other countries, “spikelets” are baked, inside which three colored eggs are placed (a symbol of the Holy Trinity). In others, they serve a fruit cake to the Easter table, consisting of 11 balls of marzipan (a symbol of 11 faithful disciples of Jesus).

Among other things, Catholics do not bring their buns to church and consecrate Easter eggs. They don't have that tradition. Unlike the Russians, who will not start the Easter meal without the blessing of a priest. Even those who did not observe Great Lent consider it their duty to take pastries and pysanky to the church for Easter “for blessing”.

WESTERN EASTER HARNESS AND RUSSIAN CUTE CHICKEN

The most popular Easter hero in the West is the Easter Bunny. Children believe that it is he who lays out chocolate eggs and other gifts for them in the yard for Easter. By the way, this cute fluffy creature came to the homes of Catholics back in 1500, and became a symbol of fertility, rebirth to a new life. For the first time, the Germans used this image in connection with the Great Resurrection, and now, residents of Great Britain, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and other countries are trying to give live and plush rabbits to their relatives and friends for Easter.

In Russian folk tales, a bunny also often appears, which brings all kinds of sweet gifts to obedient children. But on Easter it is more customary for us to give each other chickens, ducklings, goslings and other small birds (which usually appear from eggs).

WESTERN EASTER DINNER AND RUSSIAN EARLY BREAKFAST

The Catholic Church begins to congratulate its parishioners on the bright holiday of Easter only after sunrise on Sunday. In this regard, relatives and friends (with whom it is customary to celebrate the holiday in the West) are invited to visit closer to Sunday evening. While the Orthodox already at 12 at night (from Saturday to Sunday) hear the first joyful news: “Christ is Risen!”, And closer to three in the morning they return from the Easter service and sit down for the first Easter meal.

In the West, the traditional Easter lunch (dinner) consists of pastries, eggs and roast lamb (or ham) - in memory of the “slain lamb”. The Eastern rite suggests a very rich Easter table, the central dishes of which must be Easter cake, eggs, meat dishes, and vegetables. As a rule, Russian houses on Easter are open to anyone who wishes to visit. And it is customary to seat the guest at the festive table and treat them with paska. Knowing about this tradition and strictly honoring it, Russian housewives prepare a lot of food before Easter.

WESTERN TREE BURNING AND RUSSIAN FLOWER PLANTING

In many countries of Western Europe (and some US states) there is a tradition according to which it is customary to keep Christmas trees (live trees) from New Year's holidays until Easter itself. And it is on the day of the Resurrection that it is customary to burn them. If there was an artificial Christmas tree in the house, or - the tree was planted after the winter holidays in the ground, then on the Easter holiday they simply burn branches, stumps of old trees. The Easter fire is considered purifying, and this tradition is observed even in the most remote villages.

As for the Orthodox, by the time of Easter they try to have time to plant as many beautiful flowers and seedlings of fruit trees as possible.

WESTERN PICNIC AND RUSSIAN FESTIVALS

Traditionally (and, characteristically, Catholics and Orthodox are united in this matter) Monday after Great Sunday is an official day off. And that means we can continue to celebrate Easter! As a rule, the inhabitants of Western countries try to spend the second day in the bosom of nature. They go to the park, to the forest, to the nearest lake and have a picnic there. The second day (both Europeans and Americans) try to spend not only with their families. They also invite close friends and distant relatives to the picnic.

In Russia, too, on the second day of Easter, mass festivities are organized. As a rule, people gather together, dance and sing songs. Or (there is also such a custom) godchildren meet with their godparents, bring them Easter cake and exchange painted eggs.

Different people, different countries, different traditions. But there is something in which both the Russian Orthodox and the Catholics of the West are united. This is something - faith in goodness, love, resurrection of the soul, hope for a better future. And no matter how we, all together, celebrate Easter, we are united in our joy, smiles, and openness. And this is probably the most important thing!

Easter, along with Christmas, is considered one of the brightest holidays in the entire Christian world. At the same time, different European countries have their own traditions of preparing and holding this significant date, which in some ways have much in common. However, it also has its own interesting features, which are especially liked by tourists who decide to buy bus tickets and go on an exciting tour of the countries of Central, Eastern or Western Europe.

Easter Catholic and Orthodox: features

To begin with, it should be noted that people of various faiths live in Europe. And since the celebration of Easter is inseparably connected with religious canons, there are certain differences:

1. First of all it concerns dates. In 325, at the First Ecumenical Council, it was decided to celebrate Christian Easter after the spring equinox (on the first Sunday after the first full moon). Calculation was carried out according to the Julian calendar. In 1582, the Catholic Church introduced the Gregorian calendar, which calculates calendar dates according to the solar system. As a result, Catholic Easter is usually celebrated 7-13 days earlier than Orthodox Easter. So, if you are choosing bus tickets for the Easter holidays, then consider which church events you would like to attend.
2. Certain differences exist in worship as well. So, Catholics light an Easter candle in the church, from which they distribute fire to all parishioners. After that, they arrange a procession. Orthodox churches are waiting for the Holy Fire, brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to all the churches of the city during the Procession. Then the faithful light candles from it, with which they stand throughout the service.
3. Preparations for Easter begin with fasting, which is strict for the Orthodox, while Catholics have strict restrictions only on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Great Saturday.

local traditions

The countries of Europe have their own special traditions of celebrating Easter, associated with symbols and customs. They will be of interest to tourists traveling by bus.

In the UK, public holidays begin the week before Easter on Palm Sunday. Therefore, schools and many companies have holidays here. The inhabitants of England celebrate the arrival of Christ in Jerusalem. On Thursday, which is called the Great Thursday, it is customary to give alms. This tradition came from the royal court. On Good Friday in England they bake rolls with raisins, decorating them with a cross. On Easter Day, the British exchange eggs. Moreover, recently it is customary to give chocolate eggs or in the form of souvenir toys.
On Easter Day, churches in England hold festive services with organ music. Parishioners bless the festive baskets with bread, eggs and Easter cake. In some provinces, it is customary to arrange entertainment for children to search for chocolate eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny. In some cities in England they play egg rolling, which is important not to break. In others, football tournaments are held, victories in which are celebrated with a barrel of ale and a rabbit pie.

Easter in Germany is a children's holiday. It develops according to a special scenario based on the search for chocolate eggs. They are hidden in the yard and in the apartment. And the Easter Bunny is blamed for the loss itself. Children need to find eggs. For the Germans, this holiday is also considered the day of the beginning of spring and the beginning of a new one, so in many German villages it is customary to burn fires so that everything bad burns out in the fire. And then the treats are distributed. There is also an interesting tradition of cooking a soup of 7-9 herbs on Maundy Thursday, which every guest will certainly be fed here.

Easter holidays are celebrated here on a special scale. Moreover, special attention is paid to the religious component. All residents of cities and provinces try to get to the solemn ceremony in Rome, where a festive procession takes place. A costumed procession goes from the Coliseum to the Palatine, playing scenes based on biblical motifs about the life, death and resurrection of Christ. On the main square, parishioners receive the blessing of the Pope, who announces the joyful news that "Christ is Risen." After that, the inhabitants of Italy go to visit to spread the consecrated fire and Easter eggs to their neighbors and relatives. If you also want to take part in such a celebration, then do not forget to buy tickets online for the bus tour.

Easter turns in Spain into costume processions. The largest of them take place in Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Girona. Moreover, carnival participants dress up as skeletons and monsters, which can remind tourists of Halloween. The Spaniards are preparing for the holiday for a week, which is non-working in the country. These days they prepare palm branches, which become a source of pride during a religious procession.

It is customary to have picnics on this day in France. So don't be surprised if the holiday itself reminds you of a big Fair. The French love to get together with the whole family, play games. An invariable attribute of the holiday are bells that ring from everywhere, announcing the resurrection of Christ. It is noteworthy that during Lent, the bells of all the churches of the country are silent, mourning the crucifixion.

On Good Saturday in Poland, a small celebration is held, symbolizing the funeral of the lenten soup "zhura". During the celebration, herring is hung on the trees, which symbolizes the approaching end of the fast. Krashenki and pysanky are brought to the church on Holy Saturday, and Sunday is spent with the family, generously setting the table with various dishes. So if you buy tickets on the bus to Poland for Easter, it is better to visit this country on the eve of the holiday, because Poles try to stay at home or visit relatives all holidays. And on the third day they go to the cemetery.

Here the main character of Easter is a chicken, which symbolizes the birth of a new life. Therefore, on this day you can buy beautiful souvenirs in the form of chickens. It can be candles, plush toys, postcards, various sweets. So, if you are at least passing through this country, then at the bus station do not forget to buy a cute symbolic gift for yourself and your loved ones.

If you decide to celebrate Easter in Ukraine, then you should take into account that many Catholics live in the western part of the country, so the main events develop during the days of the Catholic celebration. East and South of Ukraine celebrate this holiday in accordance with Orthodox days. All Christians in Ukraine have common traditions associated with holidays: Strict Lent, Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, church service. On Bright Sunday, many Ukrainians try to spend the holiday with their families. At the same time, festivities glorifying the resurrection of Christ also take place on the streets of large cities.

If you want to learn more about the culture and traditions of celebrating Easter in European countries, then it's better to arrange a tour of the main major cities by booking a ticket on nBus.ua. So you can not only hear, but also see how one of the most important holidays of the Christian world is held in different countries and cities.

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One of the main Christian holidays is approaching - Easter.

This year, Catholic Easter will be celebrated on April 8, and Orthodox Easter on April 15. An almost week gap between the two dates can be a good reason to see how Easter is celebrated “there”, and only then celebrate this holiday in accordance with Russian traditions.

Germany

Germany has very deep and ancient traditions of celebrating Easter, but today this holiday is considered to be a children's holiday, which, however, does not prevent adults from enjoying the entertainment offered on this day.

The main Easter game in, as in many Western countries, is the search for chocolate eggs hidden in the house or in the yard. The missing eggs are blamed on the Easter Bunny, which in the West is considered a symbol of this holiday.

By the way, historians still cannot trace the origin of the rabbit as a symbol of Easter, constantly breaking spears on this battlefield. Some say that the hare came from the ancient cult of the spring goddess Eostre, whose symbol was the egg and the hare, and after whom Easter in the West is called easter or ostern. Others, in turn, argue that the hare is a lunar animal, and the beginning of Easter just falls on the Sunday after the new moon. In general, there are many versions, but this, of course, does not change the essence of the holiday.

To find out how Easter was celebrated in the old days, you should definitely go to one of the German villages, because the villagers, as a rule, are quite conservative and are living bearers of old traditions and customs. In German villages on the eve of Easter, on Saturday, it is customary to burn bonfires, on which, according to legend, everything bad burns.

In addition, it is customary to prepare special dishes for Easter. For example, on Thursday it is customary to serve a soup of vegetables and herbs, where seven or nine herbs are added.

Poland

Celebrating Catholic Easter is much cheaper than in most European countries. Perhaps this is due to one interesting custom that may deter most tourists from traveling to Poland at Easter time.

If on Sunday the Poles celebrate Easter as it should be for civilized people, then the next day - on Monday - the real disgrace begins on the streets. The mummers, dressed up in whatever they want, run around the cities and villages with full buckets of water, pouring over a gaping passerby.

However, the wonderful Polish cuisine, to which dyed eggs and "mazuriki" - pies made of shortcrust pastry, are added for Easter, more than compensates for all the unpleasant moments associated with forced water procedures.

Portugal

The celebration of Easter is perhaps the most colorful of all. People with flowers, torches, flags and balloons march in columns along the streets of cities. Brass bands demonstrate their skills right there with all the might of their lungs.

The Easter celebration lasts for several days, during which music and songs do not stop on the streets of Portuguese cities.

Easter ends in an interesting way in the coastal fishing towns of the country. A ceremony is held here, the name of which can be translated as “cod funeral”. Local fishermen solemnly carry the coffin through the streets, in which this very cod lies, while singing cheerful songs and dancing around the coffin. It is interesting that the holiday is not dedicated to hunger at all, as the name might seem, but, on the contrary, to the end of the fast and breaking the fast. Probably, the cheerful funeral procession intends to bury the cod exclusively in the depths of their stomachs.

France

The celebration of Easter during is rather secular. The French are generally not a religious people. The maximum that can be expected from them is a light picnic in the nearby forest with the traditional search for Easter eggs hidden by the “hare”.

Spain

Quite another matter. Here Easter is celebrated seriously, thoroughly and even gloomily. Easter preparations start early. So, for example, on Palm Sunday, processions of monastic orders and brotherhoods dressed in high caps march through the streets of Spanish cities. The monks carry with them huge crosses, candles, images and figures of various saints. All this is accompanied by the solemn music of the orchestras following the monastic processions.

On Good Friday, flagellants can be seen in the streets, who, as a sign of repentance and in memory of the passions of Christ, go barefoot, beat themselves with whips and in every possible way mortify their flesh.

True, everything ends with a Sunday colorful procession, which in terms of fun and positive is not much different from the festive Easter processions in other European countries.

Italy

Italians are very pious and religious people, and therefore the celebration of Easter here takes place with due scope and splendor.

It is customary among local residents to bring colored Easter eggs and a consecrated fire lit in the church to the homes of their friends and neighbors.

For tourists, the most attractive sight will be the procession in Rome. A solemn costumed procession stretches from the Colosseum to the Palatine, playing out the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the same time, for the Italians themselves, this performance is not entertaining, so tourists should take this feature into account when visiting Rome.

Photo: liveinternet.ru, egoism.ru, euromag.ru, shaf.livejournal.com, tolyatti.pro-otdyh.ru,