Easter 2025: Ukrainian traditions, customs and superstitions

Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays. Regardless of where you live, the Resurrection of the Lord brings with it a wide variety of Easter traditions and customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. And it’s not just about dyeing eggs, Easter cake and lamb dishes, but also about many other traditions that are well preserved in different regions of our great country.

Of course, in every corner of Ukraine, Easter is a great opportunity to gather the family around a table with traditional dishes, but it is also a reason for joy and optimism. Although Easter 2025 is a holiday full of customs and traditions, its main significance is given to the unique feelings inside us. Kyiv Online article contains the most popular Easter traditions and customs of Ukrainians.

Easter traditions and customs

The beginning of this holiday is marked by a seven-week fast. The Maundy Thursday of Easter week is also important in the Orthodox tradition, as from this day on, farmers stop working in the fields and focus on their homes and yards to celebrate Easter.

Also on Maundy Thursday, housewives start preparing Easter cake, dyeing eggs and cooking the most delicious lamb dishes.

Red eggs

As we all know, boiling and breaking red eggs is one of the most common Christian Easter customs. Red eggs are a must-have on the Easter table and a real treat for everyone, especially the little ones. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary placed a basket of eggs near the cross of the Saviour, and they turned red from the blood dripping from his wounds.

Nowadays, in addition to red eggs, Christians also choose coloured eggs as a symbol of joy and spring.

The light of the Resurrection

Another Easter tradition among Christians is the Holy Light. On the night of Christ’s Resurrection, believers go to church to receive the Light. Most often, Christians use a special candle brought from home and light it with the Light that the priest takes from the altar. This light symbolises the Resurrection and the victory of light over darkness. Christians keep this candle lit after Mass and light it throughout the year when they are going through difficult times.

Easter cake in Ukraine

Making Easter cake, a sweet pastry made from dough, cheese and raisins, is a well-known tradition in Ukraine. The traditional recipe for Easter cake with cottage cheese is one of the most popular Easter desserts. Traditionally, Easter cake is prepared by women in the family who gather together for this activity.

Lamb for Easter

Most Ukrainians serve a variety of lamb dishes on the Easter table, from lamb shot to roasted lamb ribs or all sorts of appetising additions. The lamb eaten at Easter is a symbol of the Saviour, who was sacrificed to save humanity.

In the Christian tradition, the slaughter of a lamb for Easter has been going on since the 7th century.

The Easter bunny

A somewhat newer tradition in our country is the Easter bunny, which brings eggs and gifts on the morning of Easter. The Easter bunny tradition originates from Germanic culture.

Legend has it that the rabbit comes with a large basket full of dyed eggs and sweets.

Ukrainian Easter superstitions

For Ukrainians, every holiday is associated with many folk beliefs and superstitions, and Easter is no exception. Here are the most common

Ukrainian Easter superstitions:

• On the night of the Resurrection, you must wear new clothes;
• You can’t sleep on Easter Day, because you will be sleepy and unhappy all year;
• the Resurrection candle is kept in the house, which is lit in case of illness or disorder;
• red eggs should not be eaten with salt, because, as they say, you will sweat all year round
• pieces of Easter cake and waffles are stored for a whole year, as they are considered a panacea for all diseases;
• if you keep a red egg for 40 days after Easter and it does not spoil, you will have good luck until the end of the year;
• on Easter morning, you should look into a bowl of unfilled water for the first time, because you will have good eyesight all year round;
• at the Easter table, the first Easter egg is eaten because it is believed to bring health for the whole year;
• in order for the family to be together all year round, it is desirable that the first egg is eaten by everyone at the table;
• At Easter, it is good to keep a piece of iron under the doorstep as a home amulet;
• whoever you fight with dyed eggs on Easter, you will meet in the afterlife.

Some historical and geographical regions of Ukraine, such as Bukovyna, have unique customs. Easter in Bukovyna also has its own special traditions and customs. On the night of Resurrection, girls go to the bell tower and wash the bell with the first water taken from the well in the morning, before the villagers do. It is said that this water will have miraculous powers, so after washing the bell’s tongue, the girls wash themselves with this water at Easter dawn.

Another tradition says that young men should carry flowers to the houses where their beloved girls live, and if they share their feelings, they should give them a red egg. Also in Bukovyna, on the night of Easter, Christians leave the lights on in their homes and yards as a symbol of the light that Jesus Christ brought to the world.