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Easter

Published: 2.4.2010
As each year, the time period of coloured eggs, Easter osier twigs, Paschal lambs, and other Easter refreshments is coming. By the way, which origin has, for us, this unthinkable holiday now?

The Easter is the greatest Christian Holiday. In fact, it is a memory of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and so, it is a top of liturgical year. On the other hand, Easter is spring holiday at the same time. This period is celebrated during spring equinox and re-establishment of vegetace cycle. So, approximately 3500 years ago, Easter obtained new importance by means of Pascha Holiday. This was a celebration of exodus and liberation of Israeli Nation from Egyptian captivity. So, each Israeli family sacrified a lamb, as a sign of God´s protection. The lamb´s blood was put on door-frame, in order to be saved on destruction. And Pesach Holiday comes just from this act, which means „savings“. Finally, since the death of Jesus Christ, Easter got its actual face.

Since Lent up to Easter Sunday

Nevertheless, Easter is predestinated with Lent time period, which starts with so called Ash-Wednesday, connected with words, such as: „Remember that you are a dust and will be changed in dust again!“. In the first Lent Sunday, there was a tradition to eat a meat, consisted from dipped and fried peas. On the following Sunday, there was served a meal, prepared from fried cereals grains, The next Sunday is joined to another tradition: how many times you are forced to sneeze, so many years you alive. Sociable Sunday referred to festivities, taken place within that day. Last, but not least, it is Mortal Sunday: the Death in form of figure, was  brought out the village, and consequently burned or drown there. Palm Sunday is a beginning of so called Pascha Week. During this time period, religious rites, according to Gospel motifs, were effected. Good Friday is the most important day of the whole Pascha Week. On that day, you would obliged to keep severe fast, as this is sorrow day of Jesus Christ death. The people went to the brook to be washed there, in order to be healthy in the future. Even so called Pascha threads were spinned. Several stitches were made there, in order the family could be protected against bad spirits. Moreover, a shirt, spinned with Pascha threads, could protect the person against lightnings. On Holy Saturday, small cross, manufatured from burnt wooden pieces, was brought to the fields, in order favourable crop could be secured. Inside the households, there were effected, except general cleaning, Easter cakes, Easter lambs were baked, the egges were coloured and the boys made Easter osier twigs. Finally, on Easter Sunday, the tables were full of meals, and all these foods were consecrated.

Easter Osier Twig: this tradition comes probably from 14th century. Husbands and wives flogged their women, and the lovers their sweethearts. Who slept too long in the morning, he was watered with cold water directly in his bed. At the end of osier twig, interwoven from eight switches of willow or sallow, a coloured ribbon was woven. On Easter Monday, the men and children got up early morning, and armed with osier twigs, flogged the girls, in order to ask for and get their carol. The girls and women could be always young and healthy in the following year. The men and boys receive, as a reward, coloured (painted) eggs.

Eggs´ Painting (colouring): this tradition comes from ancient Egypt time period. Within Christian tradition of Easter Holiday, the carollers got the eggs for their carol. Blown eggs – painted Easter eggs - served as a decoration only, and were painted in red colour only, presenting blood, love and life in such form. Nevertheless, even the remaining eggs had to be full and coloured. So, eggs´ magic power could be increased. The eggs present a symbol of life and growth, and its donation would secure good crops, etc. At present, during modern time period, a custom of children donations, with various chocolate figures, presenting Easter themes (in the form of hares of eggs) is expanded.

Easter Lamb: expresses symbolism of man, as a member of God´s community, where the God, as a shepherd, looks after everybody. The lamb, decorated with red ofr green ribbon is put, together with Easter cakes, on dining table on Easter Sunday.

Text: Maxim Kucer

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: Wikipedia.org



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