On the occasion of Easter, the greatest Christian holiday, Orthodox believers continue to preserve customs passed down through generations. From painted eggs and festive tables to family gatherings, tradition remains deeply rooted in everyday life – even as modern lifestyles reshape how it is practiced.
The image of Easter is familiar: dyed eggs, a gathered family and a festive atmosphere. For Orthodox Christians, this holiday symbolizes renewal, rebirth and the awakening of life. These meanings are reflected in numerous customs that have survived through centuries.
Ethnochoreologist Slaviša Jović explains that many of these traditions are closely tied to nature and its cycles.
“Easter symbolizes the turning point between winter and summer. There is a strong connection with nature, which people were once much closer to than today. The egg itself, as a symbol of life, has remained central – essentially, we celebrate life,” Jović said.
He adds that customs are an important reflection of identity and a link with ancestors, even when their deeper meanings are not always fully understood.
“Many rituals have backgrounds that are difficult to explain today. In rural areas, for example, the host attends early liturgy, eats an egg before sunrise, and then shares breakfast with the family. In some regions, the first egg is even broken over an anthill,” he noted.
Cultural and artistic societies play a key role in keeping these traditions alive, ensuring they remain a living practice rather than a memory. Through folklore, music and work with young people, customs are passed on to new generations.
Saša Joković from SKUD Semberija Bijeljina highlights the importance of this effort.
“I’m glad we preserve these traditions, because if we don’t, who will? People need to understand that life continues after us. Customs are better preserved in villages – in cities, it is more difficult to maintain them,” he said.
Despite the rich tapestry of customs, the church emphasizes that the essence of Easter lies in faith – specifically, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of Christianity.
Priest Miran Gavrilović points out that more and more people, especially young ones, are rediscovering this deeper meaning.
“It is a great joy to see that people are turning to the essential message. Many young people are seeking peace and meaning, and it is precisely this search that brings them closer to faith,” he said.
At a time when traditions are adapting to modern life, Easter continues to unite faith and heritage. While customs may evolve, their core message remains unchanged – a celebration of life, renewal and spiritual hope.
The celebration of Easter, which was preceded by preparation with a several-week fast, Orthodox believers first begin in churches, gathered in community for the Holy Liturgy, the climax of which is communion – union with God.
Then the celebration continues in the family circle, where a special joy, especially for children, is beating colorful Easter eggs.
The colorful egg represents the very symbolism of Easter. The egg is a symbol of the birth of life, the chick hatches the shell and comes out, just as Christ rose from the dark tomb and ascended to heaven.
Orthodox believers gather around the Easter table and recite the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father”, and sing the Easter, victorious troparion “Christ is risen from the dead and by death he has conquered death…”.
Easter is celebrated for three days, during which Orthodox Christians greet each other with “Christ is risen”, with the greeting “Truly he is risen”.
The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, as this holiday is designated in the calendar of the Serbian Orthodox Church, is the oldest Christian holiday and has been celebrated since the earliest times of Christianity. It is the main movable holiday and its date is used to determine when other movable religious holidays will fall.
At the First Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea in 325 AD, the Church established that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon that appears after the first equinox, but it cannot be before April 4 or after May 8.
This canonized principle of determining the date of Easter is today applied by Orthodox churches, that is, churches that have remained on the orthodox, orthodox line.
