Easter

Orthodox Easter, or, as it is called in Bulgaria, Velikden, is one of the largest and most important Orthodox holidays. On this day the Lord God Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The holiday is associated in time with the first full moon after the spring solstice, and therefore each year Velvedden (Easter) falls on different dates.

Preparations for the holiday go on throughout the previous Holy Week. Eggs are usually painted early in the morning on Good Thursday in all houses (if this is not done then, you can only paint eggs early on Saturday morning). The oldest woman with the first painted egg draws a cross on the forehead of all the children in the house. This egg is then placed in front of the home icon. Usually at the same time, Easter breads (kalachi) are baked, in which an odd number of eggs are laid.

The celebration of the Greatden (Easter) begins at midnight on Sunday. In the temples, people gather for the festive liturgy, carrying lit candles in their hands and taking painted eggs from home. During the service in the temple, everyone sings “The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, death is right,” and after the service, everyone congratulates each other: “Christ is risen!” The answer should be: “Verily risen.” That's what greets you on the street for the next few weeks. Even in the courtyard of the temple, people give each other painted testicles, clink with them, and then eat them.

In the morning, people attend church services again, and then gather in a family way. Young people usually go to visit their parents or cronies. The table is served, as a rule, dishes from lamb, put on the table a lot of salads from fresh vegetables, pour red wine.