Catholics And Protestants In Belarus Celebrate Easter

Most Christian churches today celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ.

Festive services were held in all Catholic churches and Protestant houses of worship in Belarus.

Easter is the most anticipated bright day for many Christians. Easter symbolizes the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, who accepted death for the sins of people and for the sake of saving the human race from terrible perishes.

Easter is a holiday with a floating date, since the holiday is calculated according to the lunar-solar calendar and is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon. In addition, due to the difference in calendars, Catholics (Gregorian calendar) and Orthodox Christians (Julian calendar) celebrate Easter with a certain difference.

Features of worship

On Easter night, in front of the temple, the Catholic priest lights a fire, from which he lights a very large candle, which is called the Paschal. The same tradition is characteristic of the Easter rite in the Anglican and Lutheran churches. Parishioners light their candles for Easter and take the lit candle home. It is noteworthy that after Easter, the Paschal is lit at every service until Pentecost (the descent of the Holy Spirit).

Krashanki eggs

Painted eggs are a symbol of Easter among all peoples professing Christianity. According to legend, Mary Magdalene, having learned about the resurrection of Christ, went to tell everyone about the miracle, her words reached the ears of the emperor, and when Mary Magdalene appeared before him at his request, he laughed, saying that just as white eggs will never turn red, so will the dead will not become alive. The egg in his hand immediately turned red. Therefore, colored eggs are a mandatory attribute of the holiday.

Chocolate eggs and Easter bunny

Recently, Catholics have decided to give children gifts on Easter, or rather a basket of chocolate eggs wrapped in colored foil. It is placed at the head of the bed or hidden in a secluded place, and the search for a gift turns into fun — the festive egg hunt begins. Of course, it is not the parents who give it, but the Easter Bunny.

Easter bread

On Catholic Easter, the main dish on the table is Easter bread. Each nation has its own unique bread, all of them are very beautiful, festive and tasty. The French have a type of brioche, the Poles have Easter babka, the Czechs have mazanets, the Greeks have tsoureki, the British have simnel, the Spaniards have mona de Pascua, the Italians have panettone or colomba, and the Germans have gugelhupf.