From "Once upon a time - manners and worldview of the Bulgarians"
Easter or Resurrection is the biggest holiday for Orthodox Christians, while Catholics celebrate Christmas more. The historical events related to the Resurrection took place in the days surrounding the Jewish holiday of Passover. Passover is a moving holiday related to the cycles of the moon, so Easter also has a variable date. But according to the ancient rule, the Resurrection is never celebrated on the same day as the Passover. During the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD. fixed Easter to be celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
According to the legends and the gospels, Jesus knew and foretold his crucifixion and resurrection, even naming his betrayer. On the third day after his crucifixion, several women, led by Mary Magdalene, go to his tomb to anoint his body with incense according to the tradition of the time, and find that the tomb is empty.
Today, the Great Day is celebrated with a difference of one to several weeks for Orthodox and Catholics. This is because the Orthodox Church determines the date according to the Julian calendar, while the Catholic Church celebrates this event according to the Gregorian calendar. Protestants celebrate Easter according to local tradition - in the West with the Catholics, in the East with the Orthodox.
Folklore collection "Once upon a time - manners and worldview of the Bulgarians"
In the West, calculations for the holiday begin on March 21 - the day of the actual vernal equinox, for the Julian calendar this day is thirteen days later. When the full moon after the astronomical day of the vernal equinox falls after April 4, the East and West celebrate Easter on the same date, but if the full moon occurs between March 21 and April 4, the West celebrates Easter much earlier than the Orthodox Church. Sometimes this difference reaches a whole month. Another reason for the different dates is the fact that in the West they celebrate Easter even if the Sunday after the full moon of the vernal equinox coincides with the Jewish Passover, while in this case in the East they set the date of the holiday on the following Sunday.
In the Bulgarian tradition, the Christian Resurrection coincides with the birth of new life and the coming spring. People prepare for the holiday all week. The main preparation days, however, are Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday. On Thursday, the eggs are dyed and the kvass, which is used to knead the dough for the kozunaks, is renewed. Whoever did not manage to pick the eggs on Thursday can do it on Saturday. Saturday is also the day for kneading the ritual breads. In different parts of the country they are called Easter kravai, God's pita, koshara, harman, kvasnik, eggnog, braid or doll. The decoration is also varied, but strictly symbolic. Small, round bread rolls with a red egg in the middle are also prepared. They are given to the first guest who crossed the threshold that day or to neighbors or relatives.
The first egg is always dyed red and with it a cross is drawn on the children's foreheads, that they may be healthy and strong. There are different customs about what is done with that first egg. Somewhere they put it in front of the icon of the Virgin, and they take last year's and bury it in the garden under a tree; or they break it open and guess on it - if it is full and has no bad smell, it will be a good year. Elsewhere, the new, first egg is buried in the fields for blessing or placed in the maiden's chaise.
In many cultures around the world, the egg is a symbol of the universe and new life. In Persian culture, it was believed that the Earth was hatched from a giant egg. Since hens lay the most eggs in the spring, and during Lent animal food is forbidden so that it does not spoil, people began to boil them. Different countries have different customs when preparing eggs. In Germany, for example, people ate green eggs on the Thursday before the holiday. Initially, only red eggs were dyed in Greece. And in Catholic countries, the colored eggs are hidden and the children had to find them by Easter. Whoever fills their basket with the most eggs will have the most luck during the year. Children in Germany, Great Britain and the USA roll eggs at each other. The winner is the egg that stays healthy the longest, and its owner will be healthy and strong throughout the year.
Besides eggs and couscous, lamb is the other popular Easter food, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The lamb has since the end of time been perceived as a sacrificial animal and symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus to humanity.
Easter is celebrated for three days. On the Saturday night before Resurrection, people gather in the church for mass and to take and take the sacred fire to their homes. On Sunday morning, everyone goes to church again and greets each other with "Christ is risen"/ "Truly he is risen". The young are visiting parents, godfathers and brothers-in-law. They exchange Easter breads and colored eggs. The fasts are over and the table is rich.
As a symbol of the rebirth of new life, it is also accepted that people dress in their newest and nicest clothes on this day.
Name days are celebrated by Velik, Velika, Veliko, Velin, Velislav, Velichka, Velichko, Velka, Velko, Velyo, Vili and Velina.
© 2023 Iliana Dechkova