Orthodox Christians Celebrate Easter Today

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Orthodox Christians are celebrating the most joyous Christian holiday, Easter, today, and special customs are associated with it. 

For Easter, one should wake up early, and one should not go to sleep early before midnight. It is believed that whoever falls asleep before midnight will be drowsy and sleepy all year round. When one wakes up, they should wash their face with water in which are placed: cornel, geranium, basil, and a red Easter egg. The first colored egg is set aside until the next Easter and is called the "guardian egg".

It is customary to touch children's cheeks with a red egg so that they are healthy and rosy all year round.

On Easter morning, people go to church for liturgy.

The first thing to eat after communion and upon returning home, thus breaking the fast, is an egg. Special pies and breads are made for Easter.

Many also practice the custom of hiding eggs and sweets in flowers, in yards if they have them, and then children, as soon as they open their eyes, go to look for the gifts that the Easter bunny left them last night.

On Easter day, knocking or tapping eggs is also indispensable. Eggs are first tapped tip to tip, and then side to side. Whoever breaks another's egg takes it for themselves.

On the second day of Easter, a broken egg should be left in the field so that the field is fertile all year round, and an egg should also be given to livestock so that they are healthy all year round.

Customs around the world are also interesting, so the Swiss decorate springs and fountains on the eve of Easter, paying homage to water, which is essential for life.

In Poland, on Easter Monday, friends douse each other with water to "wash away sins", which is why that day is called Smigus Dingus, meaning "wet Monday".

In England, ham is usually served instead of lamb on the holiday table, while Easter eggs are also an obligatory part of the holiday there. Young English children often go from house to house asking for sweets.

In France, on Easter, after the traditional mass and the search for hidden eggs in the garden, the family gathers around roasted lamb on the table, and the next day is usually reserved for a family outing, while in the southwest of the country, a giant omelet is made on Easter Monday.