Tradition,pasion,a way of life

Easter painted eggs

Easter in Romania

The Lent lasts for 7 weeks, 7 weeks of prayers and refraining from all kinds of  desires, weeks in which they come closer to God by good deeds and humility. The last week from the Lent, known as the Great Week, the fasting is even more strictly, some of the days being with total abstaining from food and water.

On Saturday evening they go to take part in the Resurrection service. Early in the morning, after the service ins ready, the Christians go to the church with baskets made especially for this event. They wait for the priest to come and throw holy water over the food in the baskets. After that they go home and eat for the first time after  7 weeks from the hallowed  food which includes the red eggs.

The Shrovetide is the end of the week when Romanians used to drink, eat and enjoy themselves until Sunday night. After it there comes the white week, which is the week before the Lent. During the white week Christians eat only milk products, the meat being the first to be eliminated form their daily menu.

On Thursday in this week, which is also known as the Great Thursday, the housekeepers prepare food for Easter. This is the day when they paint the eggs. It is said that the eggs that are boiled and painted on this day do not grow alter as easy as those made in the other days of the year. The next day they try to eat nothing and in the evening they go to the church to take part to a special (divine) service.