Easter is the most important Christian holiday dedicated to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Orthodox believers will celebrate Easter in 2026, what will be the traditions, symbols and signs of the holiday – in the material “Moscow Evening”.
What is the date of Orthodox Easter in 2026?
Orthodox Christians will celebrate the holiday on April 12, 2026, and Catholics on April 5. Dates vary due to different calendars followed. In most cases, Catholics celebrate Easter before Christians, but sometimes the events coincide.
The date of Easter changes every year and is linked to the solar and lunar calendars. The holy day is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon in spring.
The history and essence of Easter
The Jewish Passover was originally celebrated in honor of the Exodus. According to the Old Testament, God commanded the Jews to slaughter lambs and put the blood on their doorposts. Lambs were sacred animals to the Egyptians. Those who were not afraid to slaughter lambs demonstrated their faith in God. And punish the rest. Not only people died, but also the firstborn of domestic animals died, which was a great misfortune and loss for the peasants at that time. This was the last of the Egyptian plagues – plagues sent by God to the Egyptians to oppress the Jews.
Since then, on the same dates, the Jews have commemorated those events by slaughtering lambs and holding feasts. On the evening in honor of the holiday, Jesus announced that he would replace the Lamb and himself become a sacrifice for the purification of people, to atone for all their sins. The Apostle Peter links Easter with the sacrifice of Christ. It was he who, according to legend, said that Jesus replaced the lamb at Easter. After that, Easter in Christianity became the familiar Easter. For those who honor the New Testament – the teachings of Jesus, Easter is primarily the holiday of the Resurrection of the Lord. While in Judaism the original meaning was preserved.
The New Testament says that on the eve of the Jewish Passover, Christ’s disciples decided to anoint his body with fragrant substances, but they did not find him in the crypt. The risen Savior appeared before his followers. At the place where Christ rose (according to the Bible – in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem), every year before the holiday a torch is miraculously lit – the Holy Fire. It is transmitted around the world to representatives of different Christian denominations.
What you can and cannot eat during Lent
Lent is a seven-week ascetic period on the eve of Easter, designed to help people purify themselves as much as possible before the Lord appears. It is forbidden for the fasting person to eat foods of animal origin, consume alcohol, or smoke. You need to pray a lot and go to church services.
Easter traditions and customs
Before the resurrection of the Son of God, believers spend the whole night serving in the church. The priest blesses the traditional foods usually eaten on this day: colored eggs, Easter cakes, Easter cheese.
In Russia, Easter has always been widely celebrated, mixing Christian traditions with pagan traditions. The ancient rituals turned into signs and superstitions that were passed from generation to generation, and thus they have remained to this day.
Colicchi
It is impossible to imagine Easter without Easter cake. According to the Bible, Christ and his apostles always ate together. When he ceased earthly life, his followers continued to symbolically share bread with him and left him a portion of their meals. Modern Easter cake is the same bread that Christians want to offer to the Savior.
Paint the eggs
One popular account of why eggs should be painted at Easter is linked to the follower of Christ, Mary Magdalene. When the Son of God rose, the Supreme Pontiff of Rome told Tiberius about it, and presented an egg symbolizing the origin of life. The governor did not believe her and mocked her, suggesting that her story was as likely as the fact that the egg would turn red. At this moment the egg turned red.
Modern Orthodox Christians dye eggs in onion broth and arrange fights: they “fight” with them at the festive table. The person whose egg breaks will lose.
On Eid, it is customary for believers to greet each other with three kisses. It is customary to congratulate loved ones with the exclamation “Christ is Risen!”, and in response they traditionally say: “Truly He is Risen!”
Candles
Easter candles are a symbol of holy fire. There is a belief that candles lit during the Easter night service have powerful powers. The wax resulting from the burning candle is not thrown away, but is stored for a whole year to protect it from fires and damage.
Bell ringing
The ringing of bells, which occurs during the Easter service, can cleanse a person’s soul from evil spirits, bad thoughts, and give health. If you’re lucky enough to hear the Easter chime, you should make a wish.
Easter night signs in church
On Easter night, people would draw water from the spring, because they believed it had miraculous properties: it healed and rejuvenated. If the sky is full of stars, frost is expected to hit soon. It was advisable to stay awake until dawn so as not to miss happiness. It was also at this time that people went to the graves of their deceased loved ones and communed with the souls.
Weather signs
According to tradition, most of the signs helped our ancestors to guess the weather:
- A rainy Easter day – it will continue to rain throughout the spring;
- cloudy – do not expect heat in summer;
- Heavy rain promises a fruitful summer.
- Frost is a harbinger of a dry and hot summer.
- The sun is shining, there is no precipitation – the summer will be generous.
Signs to attract money
To improve your financial situation on the great day, you had to go to the service in the company of the whole family, and then enjoy an Easter treat with those around you.
When you leave the temple, you must donate money with all your heart.
And the crumbs remaining from Easter cake cannot be thrown away: they are given to birds – the souls of the departed.
Signs associated with marriage, love and pregnancy
From time immemorial, the main goal of a woman was to build a strong family. Therefore, the thoughts and dreams of unmarried girls were linked to meeting their fiancé. If you feel itchy eyebrows on Easter, it means that the groom is already close somewhere. Lips are burning – there will be hot kisses and marriage. The fly that landed in the bachelorette’s pot promised a quick wedding. The cuckoo is calling you – he will invite you to marry in the near future.
The power of sacred time was also supposed to help families conceive a child: for a miracle to occur, during a dinner party, the woman would place a plate with a slice of Easter cake next to her and whisper: “Kulich for the children.” Then she gave the baked goods to the birds.
Signs of gaining health
The holiday service is a time to pray for deliverance from illnesses for you and your loved ones. You need to put a willow tree on the children’s head, then all diseases will recede.
Signs to attract good luck
Seeing the sunrise on Easter promises a full year of good luck. As well as stunning sunsets. To avoid adversity throughout the year, you had to get up early on the holiday, set a luxurious table with sweets, receive guests, help all those in need, and do good deeds.