Easter is the feast of Christ’s resurrection.
In Ukraine Easter is called Velykden (The Great Day). In Ukraine Easter has been celebrated
over a long period of history and has had many rich folk traditions.
Ukrainian Easter is a historical combination of heathen and Christian traditions. Velykden
was celebrated thousands of years ago as the victory of the Light over the Dark, Day over
Night, Spring over Winter.
The last Sunday before Easter is called Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia). On this day pussywillow branches are blessed in the church. The week before Easter, the Great (Velykyi) Week
(Holy Week), is called the White (Bilyi) or Pure (Chystyi) Week. During this time an effort is
made to finish all field work before Thursday, since from Thursday on work is forbidden.
Pure (Maundy) Thursday is connected with ritual of clarification by water. On Passion
(Strasna) Friday—Good Friday—no work is done.
Saturday evening people gather in the church for the Easter vigil till the very morning when
priests bless the food believers brought. After that people go home to celebrate Easter with
their families. If they meet other people on the way they say: “Christ is risen!” and these
people should reply “Risen indeed”. All the people exchange Easter greetings and give each
other painted eggs (krashanky).
Easter cake (‘Paskha’) and painted eggs (‘Krashanky’) are the symbols of Ukrainian Easter
and obligatory food on the table this day. Paskha is baked from yeast dough in the form of
cylinder.
Krashanka is a boiled and painted egg. On this Day Ukrainian kids play their favorite Easter
game: knocking the eggs. If you knock somebody’s egg and your egg is not broken than you
are the winner.
The krashanky and pysanky (Easter eggs) are an old preChristian element and have an
important role in the Easter rites. On this day they are given as gifts or exchanged.
Exercise 1.
1. Easter is the feast of ___________________________.
2. In Ukraine Easter is called Velykden _________________.
3. The last Sunday before Easter is called _______________.
4. The week before Easter is called the _________________.
5. On ________________—Good Friday—no work is done.
6. ________________________________ are the symbols of
Ukrainian Easter.
7. Krashanka is a ____________ and ___________ egg.
8. The _____________ and __________ are an old preChristian element.
Exercise 2.Write TRUE or FALSE:
1. In Ukraine Easter is called Velykden (The Great Day).
2. Velykden was celebrated hundreds of years ago.
3. On Willow Sunday pussy-willow branches are blessed in the church.
4. Pure (Maundy) Thursday is connected with ritual of clarification by water.
5. On Passion (Strasna) Friday all people work.
6. Kulich is baked from yeast dough in the form of cylinder.
7. Krashanka is a boiled and painted egg.
8. On Easter flowers are given as gifts or exchanged.