Easter traditions in Georgia are similar to the customs of other peoples professing the Orthodox faith. However, there are some differences that add a special flavor to the holiday. Easter in modern Georgia combines classic church rituals and old folk amusements.
The celebration of Bright Easter in Georgia takes place simultaneously with the entire Orthodox world. Traditionally, the holiday begins on Good Friday and lasts until Tuesday of the next week. Days from Maundy Thursday to Monday of Bright Week inclusive in Georgia have the status of public holidays and are days off.
Celebrating Church Easter in Georgia
The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ (Georgian Akhdgoma) is celebrated in Georgia with special solemnity. Passion Week (Easter week) is set aside for prayers and fasting; on these days, believing Christians attend statutory church services. On the eve of Maundy Thursday in some regions of the country, the ancient ritual "cleansing by fire" is still performed. Late on Wednesday nights, fires are lit and jumped over the fire, thereby "cleansing" themselves from the sins accumulated over the year. The tradition, originating in pre-Christian times, harmoniously merged with Orthodoxy and acquired a lofty meaning.
Good Friday in Georgia is considered the most mournful day of the year. Throughout the day, Christians abstain from food and any work, spending all their free time in churches. At the end of the rite of burial of the Holy Shroud, parishioners begin preparations for the celebrations: they paint eggs and bake cottage cheese Easter.
Early in the morning on Holy Saturday, the Shroud is carried around the church, after which it is placed in the center of the temple. A strict fast is observed on this day. People preparing for the sacrament at the Passover service refrain from taking any food after six o'clock in the evening. On the night of Great Saturday, after midnight, parishioners congratulate each other on the Bright holiday of the Sunday of Christ. On the second day after Easter, believers commemorate their dead relatives and visit their graves.
Traditions of celebrating Easter in different regions of Georgia
In the mountainous regions of Georgia, Easter is celebrated in a special way. Many settlements have their own traditions. For example, in the village of Sno - the homeland of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II - on this day local boys took part in archery competitions. Colored eggs were used as targets.
Residents of the village of Shukhuti in Western Georgia still play Lelo Burti, an old ball game. The competition is reminiscent of rugby: players are allowed to take possession of the ball in any way. The ball is made by the residents themselves, its weight is about 16 kg. The winner is the team that crosses the river with the ball and leaves it on the other side. The winners take the ball to the cemetery as a sign of respect for their departed ancestors.
In southern Georgia, after a night service in a church, parishioners go home, and in the morning women bake a special Easter bread in tandoor ovens, which is the main dish on the festive table that day. Men, on the other hand, are engaged in grilling meat. As a rule, pork hams are used especially for the celebration. On the festive table, along with bread and fried meat, local wine and cheese are always present.
Kakheti (a historical region in eastern Georgia) has its own glorious traditions. For example, Good Friday here is the only day of the year when there is a strict ban on drinking wine. The Easter holiday in the east of the country is widely and cheerfully celebrated: throughout the entire festive week, believers visit each other, arrange feasts with songs and entertainment. The main dish on the table is grilled lamb.
