Easter: traditions and names

Easter is celebrated every first Sunday after the first spring full moon. The celebration begins on Monday and is called Holy Week.

Nouns:

Velichko, Velichka, Veliko, Velik, Velika, Veliko, Velimir, Velimira, Paska and Pascal.

Customs

We all know about the tradition of dyeing eggs for Easter. It is not known when eggs first began to be dyed.

In Bulgaria, eggs are traditionally painted on Maundy Thursday or Maundy Saturday, the number of them depending on the family members. The first is always colored red by the oldest woman. While it is still warm and freshly painted, she draws the sign of the cross on the children's foreheads to keep them healthy. Until the advent of artificial dyes, decoctions of herbs, nuts, etc. were used. A red dye was obtained from broch decoction, orange from sumac, green from nettles, yellow from walnuts and apple skins or a decoction of old onions. Whenever eggs were dyed, a separate basket was also prepared for the best men. An egg was also given to each guest who crossed the threshold. For additional decoration, prints of parsley leaves or figures drawn with wax or colored pencils were used. According to the belief, the one whose egg remains healthy after the knocking will be the healthiest during the year. The first dyed red egg is placed in front of the home icon to guard the home.

At midnight before Easter, a solemn service is held in church temples and at exactly 0.00 the priest announces the Resurrection of the Son of God with the words "Christ is Risen!" and the Christians answer "He is Risen indeed!". The priest brings out a lighted candle, from which all those present light their candles, trying to keep the flame as long as possible, and then take them to their homes.

The fire in the church is sacred, as it was brought from the Holy Sepulcher by the Bulgarian bishops.

On Easter, people greet each other with the words: "Christ is risen!", and the answer is: "Truly he is risen!".

Dining room:

At the table for Easter there are painted eggs, and there must be a red egg, which cannot be broken, but is kept until the next year; kozunaci, lamb, seasonal green salad.

The lamb on the table is associated with the belief that a lamb was sacrificed on the day of Jesus' Resurrection.