PASKHA - Easter Sunday

Easter is considered to be the most significant holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church and Easter Sunday (Paskha) is the highlight of the Easter celebrations in Russia. On the night before Paskha, Russian Orthodox Christians attend church services and at midnight they light candles and follow the priest around the church as they pray and sing. Easter Sunday is a family day of celebration and feasting. Both adults and children engage in the tradition of decorating Easter eggs (pysanka) with elaborate designs, which they present as gifts to friends and family. Some prefer to make their pysanka out of carved wooden eggs.

Easter is considered to be the most significant holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church and Easter Sunday (Paskha) is the highlight of the Easter celebrations in Russia. On the night before Paskha, Russian Orthodox Christians attend church services and at midnight they light candles and follow the priest around the church as they pray and sing. Easter Sunday is a family day of celebration and feasting. Both adults and children engage in the tradition of decorating Easter eggs (pysanka) with elaborate designs, which they present as gifts to friends and family. Some prefer to make their pysanka out of carved wooden eggs.

An integral part of the Easter Sunday celebrations is a traditional rich cheesecake called Paskha. The Paskha is traditionally pyramid-shaped which is symbolic of Christ’s tomb. The traditional mould is made of wood, but nowadays plastic moulds are used. The mould is made in such a way as to leave markings on the sides of the Paskha. The markings include traditional religious symbols such as the cross, lance and Russian letters representing the greeting “Christ is Risen!” The main ingredient of Paskha is curd, which is mixed with butter, eggs, sour cream, almonds, raisins and spices. The Paskha is enjoyed as part of a meal which includes Kulich - traditional Russian Easter bread – and other Easter treats.

There is no doubt that Paskha holds special meaning for Christians in Russia which they consider to be a joyful time, as well as a time for reflection on the blessings they enjoy.