Easter

Easter (called Paskha or Velykden – the Great Day) is, perhaps, the most important religious holiday for Ukraine. It marks holy Resurrection with celebrations depending on the church calendar. They always fall on Sunday usually in April or May. On the Easter eve thousands of people, young and old, go to churches to attend the Easter Vigil. They bring food and water to have them blessed by a priest. Many people keep a quite tough pre-Easter 40-day fast and break it with the blessed food on the Easter morning. Traditional meals include Easter eggs dyed different colours and patterns and Eastern cake (Paska).

The customary greeting Khristos voskres(ye) ("Christ is risen!") and the reply Voistinu Voskres(ye) ("Truly He is risen!") are heard everywhere.

Though the day is a national celebration and an official day-off, nothing grand happens in public life and Easter is mostly regarded as a family holiday.

Back