Coloring Easter Eggs

Blessing Easter Baskets

Spring Cleaning

Easter Lillies

Palm Crosses

Customs of the Great Fast and Holy Week

The coloring of "Easter eggs" originated from the pious legend that Mary Magdala was bringing cooked eggs to share with the other women at the tomb of Christ. When Mary Magdala saw the Lord, the eggs in her basket turned brilliant red.

The faithful, having fasted and abstained from meats, eggs, and dairy products throughout all of Great Lent, bring baskets of these festive foods to church on Easter Sunday. There, the priest blesses the baskets after Divine Liturgy and the people share their foods.

During the great week before Pascha the faithful would clean their homes with special care and attention so that no imperfection however slight would mar the purity of the Resurrection.

The tradition of buying Easter lilies during Holy Week for use as decorations in homes and churches came into practice in the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity and new life that heralds the resurrection of Jesus.

On Palm Sunday each year, the priest blesses palms in celebration of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Since medieval times, people have formed these palms into crosses and placed them in their homes to remind them of the Feast.