We're here to help you keep count of the days to or since a date. Just click the button below and enter your chosen date to get started. Also choose the suggested days or search for a special day above #countingthedays
Orthodox Easter Sunday, known as "Pascha" in Belarus, is one of the most significant and revered religious holidays in the country. The date of Easter in the Orthodox Church is determined by the Julian calendar, which often results in a different celebration date from that of Western Christianity's Easter, which follows the Gregorian calendar.
The roots of Orthodox Easter are entrenched in early Christian traditions that commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Belarus, as in many Eastern Orthodox countries, this festival is steeped in both religious significance and cultural heritage.
Traditional practices leading up to Easter include Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and reflection. The Holy Week preceding Easter is marked with daily church services and preparations for the celebration. On Holy Saturday, people often gather to have their Easter baskets filled with symbolic foods such as eggs, butter, meat, salt, and a special type of bread known as "paska" blessed by a priest.
On Easter Sunday itself:
Divine Liturgy: Believers attend an early morning church service called the Divine Liturgy of Pascha. It typically includes a procession around the church followed by joyous hymns celebrating Christ's resurrection.
Greeting: The traditional Paschal greeting "Хрыстос уваскрос!" ("Christ is risen!") is exchanged among people followed by "Сапраўды ўваскрос!" ("Indeed He is risen!").
Easter Meals: After the service, families gather for a festive meal breaking their Lenten fast. This meal features dishes made from ingredients they abstained from during Lent.
Egg Decorating: A key tradition involves decorating eggs – symbols of new life – with intricate designs using wax-resist dyeing techniques. These are known as "pysanky."
Games: Another popular custom involves egg-tapping games where individuals knock their eggs against each other's to see whose egg withstands cracking.
While religious observance plays a central role during Orthodox Easter in Belarus, it also serves as an opportunity for family reunions and communal celebrations that reflect both faith and national culture.
