The word "Easter" is literally translated as "deliverance" or "liberation." All Orthodox consider this day the main event of the year, and Easter greetings as a traditional folk ritual. Easter is one of the most significant of the twelve Christian holidays. It is from her that the other memorable days and church holidays count.
The Orthodox love Easter very much and carefully prepare for it. The great Easter day traditionally begins with a liturgy. Under the arches of the temple are heard singing Easter greetings. On this day, believers in families rush to church to pray, and the house smells of fresh pastries. But the most important thing is that people turn to each other with a smile and Easter greetings are heard everywhere. They come from the very depths of the soul, from the very heart, everyone wants to say kind words and wish good, prosperity and bright spring, because this holiday takes place at a beautiful time of the year, when nature and all living things awaken, as if preparing for a new life.
Everything on this day is unusual and very solemn. The temple is unusually beautiful and carries a certain mystery. Maybe because the service is late in the night and ends in the early morning. The first priest pronounces Easter greetings. His speech is saturated with undisguised joy and happiness from the fact that the faithful visited the temple of God on this bright holiday.
He sprinkles holy water on dishes that believers have prepared especially for Easter Day. As a rule, these are eggs and fragrant Easter cakes, as well as sausages and other products that can already be eaten after fasting. Around is a special energetic filled with happiness and good mood.
Believers rejoice and rejoice at the great day of the Resurrection of Christ. For many centuries, magic words have been passed from mouth to mouth, without which Easter greetings cannot be imagined. But they sound like this: “Christ has risen!”, To which they say in response: “Truly he has risen!” Nothing more needs to be said, because these words contain the meaning of all that is so dear to every person living on Earth.
Easter greetings sound especially warm when a large friendly family gathers at the same table. The hostess puts on the table festive dishes. What is there only! Lush cakes, ruddy pies, kulebyaki, homemade sausage and, of course, painted eggs - a symbol of life. This is the most special day of the year, which is always very expected.
Recently, a new tradition has appeared - to congratulate relatives and friends on this great holiday of Orthodox Christians in modern ways, namely: using mobile phones to send congratulatory messages on a religious theme.
On this spring day, I want to congratulate as many of my friends as possible, because this is the long-awaited Easter. Funny greetings have the same religious meaning, but are more adapted to modern life. Young people are happy to send nice and very touching messages. They are also in a hurry to remind their friends that Easter is today. Congratulations sound in the form of simple, but very intelligible quatrains. For instance:
The spring bell rang
The light of hope will awaken in us again.
Easter is the bright holiday of the Resurrection,
Resurrecting, and Faith and Love!
It will be no less pleasant to hear, for example, such a congratulation:
Christ is risen! The sun shines from heaven!
Green to the joy of a gray forest,
Christ has truly risen!
We start to work miracles
Kissing three times until morning
Because our tradition
The Queen approves of Spring.
When breaking holiday eggs at a decorated family table, do not forget about those who are sick, destitute, and deprived of much. Share a piece of Easter, do not forget to give the painted egg to those who have nothing left in life. I mean people who, by the will of fate, ended up on the street, without shelter and bread. May they also have a holiday today, because a small particle of heat on this day should go to everyone.