Easter 2024: origins and traditions of the holiday

Easter is the main holiday of the Orthodox Church. At this time, believers remember the central event of Christian history – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 2024, Easter falls on May 5th. Its history and traditions are in the Kommersant reference.

Origins of the holiday

Easter exists in both the Christian and Jewish religious calendars, and the traditions are interconnected. The first chapters of the biblical book “Exodus” tell about the period of Egyptian slavery in which the Jewish people were, and their miraculous liberation. God brought down ten “plagues of Egypt” on the country of Pharaoh after he did not heed Moses’ request to let his people go. Only the tenth plague – the death of the Egyptian firstborns – forced the pharaoh to reconcile, which was followed by the Exodus.

The very name “Easter” (Hebrew “Pesach”) means “passing”, “deliverance” and is associated with the mercy shown by God to the firstborn of Israel when the Egyptians were exterminated. According to legend, during the flight from Egyptian captivity, the Jews did not have time to leaven their bread and took unleavened dough with them. They ate flatbreads (matzo) made from it in the desert. In memory of these events, on the first day of Easter, at meals, it was customary to offer a prayer of gratitude to God and treat ourselves to unleavened bread.

Following this tradition, Christ broke bread at the Last Supper, comparing it with his flesh, sacrificed to atone for human sins, thereby establishing the Christian sacrament of the Eucharist. Christian Easter became the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ – a great celebration after Holy Week and the crucifixion.

Celebration traditions

Easter is preceded by Lent, which lasts 40 days in accordance with the number of days that Jesus Christ fasted in the desert. This is a time of abstinence; previously, all family holidays were transferred to the celebration of Easter. With the onset of Easter, it is customary to break the fast. Easter festivities are also associated with this.

The Easter fire plays an important role in Christian worship, symbolizing the “Light of God enlightening all nations” after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Orthodox churches in Russia they are waiting for the Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Upon arrival, the priests solemnly carry it around the temples of the city, and Christians light their candles from it.

In imperial Russia, on the evening of Easter, folk festivities began right on the church grounds. These festivities with round dances, games and swings could last from one day to two or three weeks and were called “Red Hill”. In Russia, on Easter, people “Christed” with Easter eggs, breaking them one by one, and also kissed three times on the cheeks. Children had “rides”, competing to see whose Easter egg would roll the farthest.

Easter meal

During Holy Saturday, churches consecrate Easter cakes, Easter cottage cheese and Easter eggs prepared for the festive table.

The Easter egg in the Christian tradition symbolizes the Holy Sepulcher. Outwardly it may appear dead, but hidden within is new life that will soon emerge from it. Therefore, the egg is a symbol of the coffin, from which new life arises. The tradition of giving eggs is associated with the egg given to Emperor Tiberius by Mary Magdalene.

In the Orthodox tradition, a special bread called artos is associated with the Easter ceremony. This bread is used in the Holy Week service and is blessed at the end of the Easter liturgy. In Russian church practice, the artos remains in the church throughout Holy Week and is distributed to Christians after the liturgy on Bright Saturday.