Easter is one of the most significant holidays for Christians, and it is celebrated on a different day every year. The date of Easter is determined by astronomical events, including the vernal equinox and the full moon. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Holy Easter Week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Palm leaves are the main attribute of this holiday, and they are blessed in the church and hidden in households throughout the year until the next Lenten period. The following two days, Blue and Gray Tuesday, are the least significant days of Holy Easter Week. It was forbidden to work on Blue Monday, and churches were decorated with blue fabric. On Gray Tuesday, there was extensive cleaning in households. Wednesday is called the Ugly or Trashy Wednesday, also known as the Black, Cloudy, or Sooty Wednesday because Judas frowned at Jesus on this day. Therefore, a traditional pastry called “Judas” should be baked in households. According to beliefs, people should smile on this day because otherwise, they will frown at each other on all subsequent Wednesdays in the following year.

Green Thursday is the day when the bells ring for the last time in the old liturgical year. Legends say the bells fly to Rome to take on the new pope’s mission. The oldest Czech bells fly first, followed by the most minor and most recent, which do not yet know the way and could get lost. Good Friday is a public holiday, and it is characterized by magic, mystery, and wonders. No one should borrow anything on this day because the borrowed thing would be enchanted. Under no circumstances could anyone work with clay on this day, so fieldwork, digging, sowing, or planting were prohibited. It was also forbidden to bury or even serve a funeral or requiem mass on this day. White Saturday is the day when Christ’s body lies in the tomb. Traditionally, it is dedicated to baking Easter lambs and mazanec, and it is the culmination of the midnight service (vigil). Finally, Easter Sunday is the day of the resurrection of Christ, and it is the most important Christian holiday. It is celebrated with church services, feasts, and traditional Easter eggs.

Despite the religious significance of Easter, many unique traditions have been buried by modern times. For instance, in the past, branches of willow ivy, i.e., fluffy catkins, were used as a replacement for palms on Palm Sunday because they were not easy to come by. Similarly, on Ugly Wednesday, all chimneys and stoves were swept in every household to get rid of the old dirt and drive away evil spirits. Homemakers were forbidden to wash clothes on Good Friday, but they soaked it in the blood of Christ. These forgotten customs add an extra layer of magic and wonder to the Easter celebrations, and it is worth revisiting them to learn more about the history and culture of this holiday.

Article by Prague Forum