Easter beliefs about what can and cannot be done on Easter. What is strictly forbidden to do on Easter: on the bright holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, there can be no question ...

This is the time of festivities, bells are constantly ringing. Games are started in the fresh air, young people enjoy life, delicious treats are everywhere. The Church recommends at this time to help neighbors, those in need, to do other good deeds. On Bright Week, it is customary to walk with icons and a cross to the homes of not only clergymen, but also parishioners, and read Easter prayers.

Despite the fact that this is a joyful time, the priests do not recommend it. But you can be baptized and baptized children during Easter week. Since there is joy all around, one should not grieve, lose heart, visit cemeteries. The dead should be commemorated on Radunitsa, on the ninth day after Easter. You can do this on Krasnaya Gorka.

It is not forbidden to work, but it is prescribed to rest more, not to work, but to have fun. All matters in which there is no urgency should be postponed for another time. On Bright Week you need to rest, rejoice, receive and give pleasant emotions, just fully enjoy life.

The Resurrection of Christ is celebrated by the worshipers all week; at this time, one should not quarrel either with neighbors or strangers. It would be nice if this week became an example of good behavior in society. At this time, it is customary to invite guests to your place and go to visit yourself, visit the suffering and provide them with help. Doing any deeds that bring joy to others means doing good to yourself.

Work, but only in moderation

You can eat and drink anything, including alcohol, but without much zeal. If after the glass it is difficult to stop and control yourself, it is better not to bring this glass to your mouth. It is enough to rejoice and have fun spiritually.

Whether to work or not does not depend on the parishioner. Easter Sunday is a day off, you can and should go to church, congratulate loved ones on the holiday. If a believer has a flexible work schedule, you will have to work, but there is nothing to worry about. And one should not be sad that the work shift has dropped out, perhaps for about five minutes. Sewing in the house is not recommended, but there is no ban as such. It would just be nice to spend these days with your family, and not to arrange general cleaning during the holidays.

You can fuss around the house on any other days, but everything should be reasonable. You can give testicles, it is eternal. But for all the fun, you should not accumulate dirty dishes in the sink during the week. But there is no need to scold the household members, be angry with them if they suddenly did not wash it after themselves. It is better to leave her overnight than to experience negative emotions.

Easter is a wonderful holiday full of light and joy, one of the oldest Christian holidays and the most important one in church worship. This is a holiday of the triumph of life over death, the Resurrection of Christ, dedicated to the most significant and amazing event of the early Christian era. Easter symbols express light (Easter fire), renewal (Easter streams) and life (Easter cakes and eggs).

What can and cannot be done on Easter Day? For clarification, we turned to the ministers of the church ("Thomas" magazine).

How to properly spend Easter? Are there things you can't do?

On this day, one should not be sad, walk gloomy and quarrel with neighbors. But just remember that Easter is not 24 hours, but at least a whole week - Bright Week. In the liturgical plan, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated for seven days.

What can you eat at Easter and can you drink alcohol at Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

On Easter, you can eat and drink everything, the main thing is to do it in moderation. If you know how to stop in time, you can treat yourself to all the dishes, drink wine or some strong drinks - not to the point of being intoxicated, of course. But if you find it difficult to limit yourself, it is better not to touch alcohol. Rejoice in spiritual joy.

Can I work on Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

More often than not, the question of whether to work or not does not depend on us. If you have a day off on Easter Sunday, that is, of course, very good. You can visit the temple, and meet with loved ones, and congratulate everyone.
But it often happens that we find ourselves servile people and have to work on Easter according to our work schedule. It's okay if you work hard. Obedience is obedience. Do your work on this day in good faith. If you fulfill your duties in simplicity and truth, the Lord will surely touch your heart.

Can I do my homework for Easter? Cleaning, knitting, sewing.

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

When we read somewhere that there is a ban on homework on a holiday, we should understand that it is not just a ban, but a blessing that we spend this time in attention to the Lord, the holiday and our neighbors. So that we do not get hung up on worldly vanity. The ban on working on Easter is not canonical, but rather a pious tradition.
Household chores are an integral part of our life. You can do them on a holiday, but only by approaching this wisely. In order not to spend Easter doing spring cleaning until nightfall. Sometimes it is better, for example, to leave unwashed dishes in the sink, than to be annoyed with household members who have not washed the dishes after themselves.

Can you go to the cemetery for Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

Such a tradition has never existed in the Church. She was born among people during the Soviet Union, when a person was deprived of spiritual communion and removed from the Church. Where else was it possible to meet with the afterlife, about which the Church speaks and with faith in the existence of which the authorities fought so fiercely? Only in the cemetery. No one could forbid going to their relatives' graves.
Since then, it has become a custom to go to the cemetery on Easter. But now, when the churches are open and we can go to the Easter service, it is better to go to the cemetery to visit our loved ones on other days. For example, on Radonitsa - on the day when, according to tradition, the Church commemorates the dead. Get there early, put the graves in order, sit quietly nearby and pray.

What to do with the shells from the consecrated eggs and the stale Easter cake?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

Godly tradition tells us not to throw out what is consecrated in the temple with the rubbish. All this can be burned, for example, on a personal plot, and buried where people and animals will not trample it under their feet.

Is it possible to get married on Easter?

The question is very clear, and the answer will be unambiguous. If you come to church on Bright Week, they will tell you that you cannot get married.
There are days established by the Church on which the wedding is celebrated - these are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
There are days of the week, regardless of the time of the year, when the wedding is not performed, for example, on fast days or on Saturday.
For example, why not get married on Tuesday? Because in this case, the first wedding day will fall on a fast. Well, what is this beginning of family life, if the first day is already fraught with restrictions.
They do not get married on Saturday, on the eve of Sunday, because Sunday is a small Easter and, in a good way, a person on this day should lead a religious life, not a personal one.
It is clear that very many are inclined to neglect all these traditions of church life, but so that neglect does not acquire such a completely wild character, these days they simply do not get married.
Bright week is all like one Easter day. Great celebration of the Bright Resurrection of Christ. And all attention, of course, is focused on this. Therefore, the wedding on Bright Week also does not take place. This is the liturgical system.

Is it possible to bury at Easter?

Archpriest Alexander Abramov answers

If the death takes place on Bright Week, then a funeral service is performed with a special rite, Easter. It is especially touching with regard to babies, because their sinlessness and belonging to Easter are immediately affirmed.

Can you baptize before Easter?

Archpriest Alexander Abramov answers

There are days when it would be inappropriate to talk about Baptism, say on Good Friday, when we are fully focused on the Passion, the sufferings of Christ. Although I, just for reasons of some kind of piety and reverence for God, would not have baptized on Holy Week.
But generally speaking, you can accept the sacrament of Baptism at any time and on Bright Week too.

Why can't you paint eggs for Easter?

In general, it is customary for us to consecrate Easter cakes and eggs on Holy Saturday, that is, immediately before Easter. Therefore, we are preparing for this day in advance.
But since situations in life are different, you can consecrate your holiday gifts on the very day of Great Easter, this will not be considered something unnatural. Earlier, even before the revolution, Easter cakes and eggs were consecrated just after the night Easter service before breaking the fast.
As for preparing for the holiday, it is advisable to do everything in advance so that you have time for the most important things. In order to meet the Bright Resurrection of Christ, you could joyfully, with a light heart, you could come to meet God, leaving behind all the troubles and worries. A great event has happened, and this must be remembered. It must become the center of everything.

Why can't you celebrate your birthday on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Easter is the greatest day of the year. The triumph of life. We glorify our Savior Jesus Christ, for His boundless love and kindness, for giving us eternal life. And of course, this event in the life of every person should become central.
Therefore, celebrating a birthday cannot be more important than Easter. On the other hand, there are no prohibitions on this either. You just need to remember that this is a Bright day. And I would not want to overshadow it with excessive drunkenness, for example, or other obscene things.

Can you hunt or fish on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

If you hunt for fun, then definitely not on any day. After all, this is the killing of living beings. Sometimes people hunt in order not to die of hunger, then this is permissible, there is already a question of survival.
Or, for example, when it is a matter of earning money, which also allows you to survive. The main thing is that it does not become a mercantile entertainment.
As for the Easter days, any Orthodox believer will try to postpone the hunt for this period, if he is not in emergency conditions, when it is necessary to act according to the situation.

Can pregnant women go to the cemetery at Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Pregnant women can go to the cemetery, just like everyone else. But, according to the Orthodox tradition, cemeteries are not visited on Easter. Since Easter is not a time to commemorate the dead. This is universal joy, universal rejoicing and glorification of our Savior Jesus Christ. The first commemoration of the dead after Easter takes place on Radonitsa.

When can I confess before Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Of course, it is better to come to confession in advance, not to postpone it until the last moment. It will be possible to confess on Maundy Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday of Holy Week.
But you will need to clarify more accurate information about the time in the temple where you are going to come. Since each church has its own way of life.

Can you guess before Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

You can never guess. Yes friends, that's right. What's so bad about fortune telling, you ask.
First, it is disrespect for the Will of God. Secondly, it is a disregard for the freedom that the Lord has endowed each of us from birth.
When we use even comic, as it seems to us, fortune-telling, when we receive an answer, we program ourselves for certain actions. And the most interesting thing is that this is already happening unconsciously.
We learn any prediction about ourselves and at this moment we are deprived of freedom of choice, freedom of action, since everything will now work for this setting. If you identify yourself with the church world, you have to make a choice. What and who do you believe in. If you are with God, then you have to trust Him, otherwise you can’t.

Do you always do what the Church advises on Easter?

Easter is one of the happiest and brightest holidays of the year. Its celebration is associated with many centuries-old traditions and customs that add special flavor and soul to Easter. Unfortunately, not all of us are well acquainted with Orthodox Easter traditions. What they do on Easter and what cannot be done on this church holiday, as well as what to do before and after the Bright Resurrection of Christ, will be discussed further.

What they do before Easter: the main traditions by day

The celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord is preceded by Passion Week - the last week before the great holiday. In the old days, her every day was associated with certain traditions, which were strictly followed by all believers. So, for example, on Monday, the housewives began to put the perfect order in the house. In addition to general cleaning, a special herbal essential oil was also prepared on this day, which was used to treat various ailments throughout the next year. Linen and clothes were washed and darned on Tuesday. Also on Holy Tuesday, they reconciled and asked for forgiveness. On Wednesday, as a rule, they finished all chores and boiled eggs.

On Maundy Thursday, all family members must swim, preferably before dawn. Such a ritual of ablution guaranteed good health for the whole year, and also symbolized spiritual cleansing. Also on Thursday they began to paint eggs and bake Easter cakes. On Good Friday, as a rule, they did nothing and tried not to eat. Thus, the believers mourned for Christ. On the last day before Easter - Saturday, they finished the last preparations. On this day, the hostesses prepared all the remaining Easter treats, cleaned and washed.

What do they do on Easter?

Easter is celebrated on Sunday, the last day of Holy Week. Traditionally, believers go to church on the night from Saturday to Sunday to defend the Easter service and consecrate Easter cakes and eggs. In addition to traditional Easter cakes and cakes, you can also bless water, salt, fruits. Consecrated food is believed to bring health. In addition, it is also customary to leave some of the food brought in the church so that everyone in need on this day can share the joy of the holiday.

On a note! On Easter, it is customary to greet each other with special words: "Christ is Risen." In response to such a greeting, one must say: "Indeed he is Risen." Then kiss three times.

On Sunday morning, traditionally, the whole family gathers at one table to start celebrating Easter. First, the head of the family cuts the cake into as many pieces as there are people at the table. Breaking the fast begins with a piece of Easter cake and krashanka. Then you can try other festive dishes. Then you need to have fun and rejoice all day.

What shouldn't be done on Easter?

There is also a list of what cannot be done on Easter. For example, on this day it is categorically forbidden to swear, quarrel, grieve and go to the cemetery. Also, you can not work and do physical activity. The church also discourages excessive drinking of strong alcoholic beverages, including their consecration during the service.

What do they do after Easter?

In the first week after Easter, it is customary to commemorate the dead. All week you can go to the cemetery and bring Easter treats.

Also, in the period before the Ascension of the Lord (40 days after the Resurrection of Christ), one should adhere to the main Easter rules: be friendly, joyful, do not use foul language, live in peace with others. If possible, you need to work less and avoid hard physical labor. At this time, it is worth paying more attention to spiritual development and purification.

We hope that we have answered you the main question about what to do on Easter and what not to do. And this year you will put into practice all the knowledge you have gained.

Easter is a great Christian holiday celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox holiday of the Resurrection of the Lord is associated with traditions, omens, prohibitions.

Centuries later, people cherish the ancient customs of their ancestors. Easter is a special day filled with extraordinary energy, calling for following the rules. What can not be done on Easter and what can be done? What are the signs? What are they doing on the eve of Easter? We will talk about this in the article.

What can you do for Easter

Here's what you can do for Easter:

On Easter one cannot sleep for a long time if a person does not go to service. An old omen says: "Whoever meets the dawn on Easter will attract happiness, joy and good luck."

Advice. The widespread tradition of bathing with gold promises prosperity. Unmarried girls wash themselves with water in which the krashanka was lying. This will help you look prettier and find your betrothed.

Is it possible to clean up the house or not? You can clean up, but to a minimum. Clean up after guests cooking in the kitchen. But they refuse a general cleaning, because the day is dedicated to the celebration of the Miraculous Resurrection of Christ.

Easter bans

Premature breaking of the fast is prohibited. Many believers are cunning by eating quick food before the end of the morning Passover Liturgy. This cannot be done. On Easter night, they are refrained from carnal pleasures, drinking alcohol, swearing, loud laughter. Time is spent for cleansing the soul and worshiping God in the church. People who violate the ban will live in debt, misery and sorrow.

You cannot celebrate Easter in sadness, it is a wonderful time for reconciliation. In order not to face difficulties, receive guests, help those in need.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to use foul language, to show greed and aggression towards relatives and strangers.

The ban on visiting cemeteries has been preserved. Tradition says that on Easter day, the souls of the departed meet with God at the same table. The loved ones who came to the cemetery disturb the dead and call them to themselves, after which the souls will not return to heaven. It is worth postponing the commemoration until Bright Week, preferably until the weekend.

Food consecrated in the temple is eaten on a holiday, the remains are not thrown away. Birds are distributed or fed. And the eggshells are burned in the yard, and then buried in a secluded place.

Today Christians celebrate their main holiday - Easter, the Resurrection of Christ. In churches around the world, solemn Easter services were held on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

The word "Easter" came from the Hebrew language and means "passage", "deliverance", that is, the feast of the Resurrection of Christ means the passage from death to life and from earth to heaven. The day of the celebration of Easter was established by the First Ecumenical Council in 325.

Orthodox local churches determine the date of the celebration of Easter according to the so-called Alexandrian Easter. It must fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon, starting March 30th.

The Gospel says that on the third day after the burial of Christ, early Sunday morning, several women-myrrh-bearers (Mary, Salome, John) went to the tomb to bring incense for the body of Jesus. Approaching, they saw that the large stone blocking the entrance to the coffin had been rolled away, the coffin was empty, and an Angel was sitting on the stone. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Fearing the Angel, the women were in awe. The angel said: “Do not be afraid, for I know what you are looking for: Jesus crucified. He's not here. He was resurrected as he said. "

With fear and joy, the women hastened to announce what they had seen to the apostles. “And behold, Jesus met them and said: Rejoice! And they, approaching, seized his feet and bowed to him. Then Jesus says to them: Do not be afraid; go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. " And his disciples saw him resurrected.

Easter is celebrated for seven days, that is, the whole week, and therefore this week is called Bright Easter Week. Every day of the week is also called light; Bright Monday, Bright Tuesday, etc. The entire period before Ascension - 40 days after Easter - is considered the Easter period, and Orthodox Christians greet each other with the greeting "Christ is risen!" and the answer "Truly is risen!"

The custom of giving each other dyed eggs for Easter dates back to the 1st century AD. Church tradition says that in those days it was customary, when visiting the emperor, to bring him a gift. And when the poor disciple of Christ, Saint Mary Magdalene, came to Rome to the emperor Tiberius preaching the faith, she gave Tiberius a simple chicken egg. Tiberius did not believe in Mary's story about the Resurrection of Christ and exclaimed: “How can someone rise from the dead? It is as impossible as if this egg suddenly turns red. " Immediately before the eyes of the emperor, a miracle happened - the egg turned red, testifying to the truth of the Christian faith.

When can you break your fast at Easter?

Conversation (the first fast meal after the end of the fast) on Easter is usually performed after the Liturgy and Communion. If you attended the Liturgy at night, then after the night service you can start the festive meal. If you come to the Liturgy in the morning, then in the same way - after communion - you can break your fast. The main thing is to approach everything with a sense of proportion. Do not overeat.

If for some reason you cannot meet Easter in the church, you can start breaking your fast around the time when the festive Liturgy ends in the churches. Why is the Church good in this regard? We fast together and break the fast together. That is, we do everything together. This is what the modern world lacks so much - community.

How to properly spend Easter? Are there things you can't do?

On this day, one should not be sad, walk gloomy and quarrel with neighbors. But just remember that Easter is not 24 hours, but at least a whole week - Bright Week. In the liturgical plan, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated for seven days.

Let this week be an example of how we should always behave in society, among people.

How should you spend Easter? Rejoice, treat others, invite them to visit, visit the suffering. In a word, everything that brings joy to your neighbor, and therefore to you.
What can you eat at Easter and can you drink alcohol at Easter?

On Easter, you can eat and drink everything, the main thing is to do it in moderation. If you know how to stop in time, you can treat yourself to all the dishes, drink wine or some spirits - not to the point of being intoxicated, of course. But if you find it difficult to limit yourself, it is better not to touch the alcohol. Rejoice in spiritual joy.
Can I work on Easter?

More often than not, the question of whether to work or not does not depend on us. If you have a day off on Easter Sunday, that is, of course, very good. You can visit the temple, and meet with loved ones, and congratulate everyone.

But it often happens that we find ourselves servile people and have to work on Easter according to our work schedule. It's okay if you work hard. Maybe you can be sad about this, but no more than five minutes! Obedience is obedience. Do your work on this day in good faith. If you fulfill your duties in simplicity and truth, the Lord will surely touch your heart.

Can I do my homework for Easter? Cleaning, knitting, sewing.

When we read somewhere that there is a ban on homework on a holiday, we should understand that it is not just a ban, but a blessing that we spend this time in attention to the Lord, the holiday and our neighbors. So that we do not get hung up on worldly vanity. The ban on working on Easter is not canonical, but rather a pious tradition.

Household chores are an integral part of our life. You can do them on a holiday, but only by approaching this wisely. In order not to spend Easter doing spring cleaning until nightfall. Sometimes it is better, for example, to leave unwashed dishes in the sink, than to be annoyed with household members who have not washed the dishes after themselves.
What does it mean if a person died on Easter? This is a sign of special mercy
God's or punishment?

If a believer dies on Easter or on Bright Week, for us this is indeed a sign of God's mercy to this person. The folk tradition even says that the one who died on Easter enters the Kingdom of Heaven without ordeals, that is, bypassing the Last Judgment. But this "folk theology", dogmatically, each person will be judged and will answer for his sins before the face of God.

If an unbeliever dies these days, then, I think, it means absolutely nothing. Indeed, even during his lifetime, the Resurrection of Christ was not for him a sign of deliverance from death ...
Can you go to the cemetery for Easter?

Such a tradition has never existed in the Church. She was born among people during the Soviet Union, when a person was deprived of spiritual communion and removed from the Church. Where else was it possible to meet with the afterlife, about which the Church speaks and with faith in the existence of which the authorities fought so fiercely? Only in the cemetery. No one could forbid going to their relatives' graves.

Since then, it has become a custom to go to the cemetery on Easter. But now, when the churches are open and we can go to the Easter service, it is better to go to the cemetery to visit our loved ones on other days. For example, on Radonitsa - on the day when, according to tradition, the Church commemorates the dead. Get there early, put the graves in order, sit quietly nearby and pray.
How should you greet each other on Easter?

The Easter greeting is angelic. When the Myrrh-Bearing Women came to the Holy Sepulcher to anoint the body of the crucified Christ with incense, they saw an Angel there. He announced to them: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”, That is, he told them that the Savior was resurrected.

We greet our brothers and sisters in faith on Easter with the words "Christ is Risen!" and we reply to the greeting: "Indeed he is risen!" Thus, we tell the whole world that for us the Resurrection of Christ is the basis of life.
What is customary to give for Easter?

For Easter, you can give your neighbors any pleasant and necessary gifts. And it will be good if there is an Easter egg, decorated or red, for any gift. The testicle as a symbol of the testimony of a new life - the Resurrection of Christ.

What to do with the shells from the consecrated eggs and the stale Easter cake?

Godly tradition tells us not to throw out what is consecrated in the temple with the rubbish. All this can be burned, for example, on a personal plot, and the ashes can be buried where people and animals will not trample it under their feet. Or put it in the river. Or, having agreed in advance with the minister in the temple, bring the shells there: in each temple there is a so-called "unsupported place."