‘’Ecole - Patrimoine - Esprit Initiative Touristique - Europe ‘’ no 11-PM-243-DJ-IT “TRAIAN VUIA” HIGH SCHOOL- CRAIOVA” This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. EASTER IN ROMANIA

Meaning Easter represents one of the most important annual Christian celebration, which comemorates the essential event of christianity, "Jesus's Rebirth", God's Son, in the 3rd day after his crucifixion in the Good Friday.

The Way of calculation for the Saint Easter The date of Easter's celebration is based on 2 astronomical phenomena: spring equinox and the rotation of the Moon around the Earth.So, Easter is celebrated the next Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox.

Catholic Easter 24 April 8 April 31 March 20 April 5 April 27 March 16 April 1 April21 April 12 April Orthodox Easter 24 April 15 April 5 May20 April 12April1 May16 April 8 April28 April 19 April

Time Christian Easter lasts 40 days. The first 3 of the 40 pascal days are holiday in Romania. In the orthodox church people prepare to welcome the pascal celebrations through "Easter's Lent", also called "The Great Lent", which lasts 8 days.

The chronology of the pascal celebrations in Romania The last week of the Easter's Lent is called "The Holly Week"(The Passion Week) and starts on Palm Sunday, when is celebrated Jesus's arrival in Jerusalem. "The Holly Week" celebrates Jesus's capture, his crucifixion and his death. During this final week, the churches hold services called "evening service during passion week" every evening.

The chronology of the pascal celebrations in Romania From Monday to Thursday is commemorated the final meal, Jesus's capture and closure(sending to prison). Thursday is called "the Great Thurday". Friday, called "the Great Friday" it is comemmorated the crucifixion and Jesus' s death on the cross.On this day,people keep "black lent", which means that they eat nothing. Romanians usually attend the services during The Great Week.

The chronology of pascal celebrations in Romania On Saturday, people go to church for the midnight service, or Resurrection. At midnight the priests call the Romanians who have come to the church to take the saint light. Usually Romanians hold their candles lit until they arrive at home.

The chronology of pascal celebrations in Romania The chronology of pascal celebrations in Romania The Bright Week starts with the night of ressurection, when the gates of Heaven open and stay opened till the Elevation, while the gates of Hell are closed.

Easter traditions in Romania On Easter, the tradition says that people must wear something new. At the Ressurection christians go not only with their pure soul, but also with a cleaned body and dressed in new clothes. In the great week, the tradition is that all the housewives must do a general clean up in the house, in the yard and in the gardens, as a symbol of the rebirth.

Easter traditions in Romania The spreadest christian tradition is painting the red eggs, whose presence is indispensable at the Easter meal. The eggs are painted in the great Thursday. In some parts of the country eggs are ornamented. It's operated with symbols(soon,moon,cross), with models from nature(plants, animals, home objects) and models of traditional fabrics.

The painting of the eggs The popular technology, which turns the egg into artwork, has more stages: 1.fresh chicken and duck eggs are chosen, they are sank in water(fresh eggs go to the bottom, old eggs rise to the surface); 2. the eggs must be big and beautiful, with thick crustand without bumps; 3.they are softly washed with hot water and vinegar to avoid breaking them and to catch paint uniformly, without spots; 4.eggs are put into an orizontal position into a bowl of water to choose the bubble of air on the edge, not to the ends; 5. the eggs are boilt to small fire not to break the crust; 6.the plant or chimical paint is prepared, each colour into a clean bowl.

Traditional pascal food in Romania The Pasture It's baked once a year, at Easter. It has round shape, in the middle it has a cross and it's decorated on the edge with braided dough. Before baking it, it's filled with cow - cheese and raisins.

Traditional pascal food in Romania The lamb It represents Jesus sacrificed for the humans' sins and died as an innocent lamb. Romanians prepare different lamb dishes: steak,haggis (tripe)

Lamb steak

Lamb tripe Ingredients: eggs, lamb liver, bread soaked in milk, green onion, parsley, dill, cream, salt, pepper,sheet of dough

Lamb tripe

Easter traditions in Romania Just like Christmas, Easter is a very important celebration for Romanians, a celebration which brings the family together and a good oportunuty for joy. That's why Romanians have lunch with their family and friends at Easter. Before the meal, eggs are knocked, saying " Jesus has ressurected!/ He really has!"