How Georgia, One of the Oldest Christian Nations, Celebrates Easter
This small country at the crossroads of Asia and Europe was one of the first nations to adopt Christianity in 326 AD. Being a Christian country surrounded by Muslim nations in the North Caucasus, as well as the Ottoman and Persian Empires to the south, presented significant challenges. Throughout its history, Georgia has fought for both independence and faith. For Georgians, Christianity is not just a religion; it is deeply intertwined with their national identity.
Even for people who do not actively practice Christianity, celebrating Easter, the holiest of all holidays, is very important. People follow centuries-old customs and traditions related to Easter. Therefore, if you visit the country during this holiday, you will experience centuries-old traditions and a unique perspective on Easter.
Sacred Services, Holy Fire, and Timeless Rituals
Orthodox Christian churches all over the country welcome people of all faiths to join widely-attended Easter services starting from Palm Sunday and culminating by Saturday midnight Mass.
Palm Sunday is called Bzoba here, as instead of palm branches, people buy blessed Boxwood branches to decorate homes and churches. According to the Bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, people put palm branches on his feet to show respect. As Georgia is a mountainous country and palm trees grow mainly along the black sea coast, people replaced palm branches with more authentic trees for Georgia, a blessed Boxwood.
Good Friday, known as Red Friday in Georgia, features the second-most dramatic service of the Church year: the reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion, death, and entombment. During this service, attendees will be presented with beautiful icons and can hear the wonderful hymns that are part of the ceremony. You will be pleased to attend this ceremony if you enjoy listening to the choir sing.
If you enjoy observing religious traditions, you will appreciate the Saturday midnight Mass leading into Easter Sunday. All churches in Georgia hold this special Easter service, and many believers stay awake all night to participate. The celebration begins with the midnight liturgy, where worshippers often bring baskets filled with candles, eggs, and bread for blessings during the service.
Orthodox Christians believe in the Holy Fire, a miraculous event that occurs on Great Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. A special delegation brings the lit candles to Georgia from Jerusalem. People greet the Holy Fire by chanting “Qriste agsdga” and “Chesmaritad agsdga,” meaning “Christ has risen” and “Indeed, He has risen.” As festive bells ring, the joyful spirit of Easter fills the air.
Experience Easter, Georgian way!
Have Fun Dyeing Easter Eggs and Playing “Crack the Egg”
Preparation for the holiday is sometimes even more enjoyable than celebrating itself. Dyeing chicken eggs red for Easter is one of the most enjoyable activities for people of all ages. Red Friday or Good Friday is when Families get together and start preparing to make the main symbol of Easter, red Easter eggs.
Why red? According to legend, when St. Mary Magdalene congratulated the Roman Emperor Tiberius on Christ’s resurrection, she presented him with an egg. In response to the news, Tiberius remarked that he would rather believe the egg could turn red than that a man could return from the dead. At that moment, the egg miraculously turned red, leading to the Christian tradition of dyeing eggs red.
Traditionally, we dye eggs before sunset using only natural remedies instead of artificial colors. The most popular materials for dyeing are onion peels and madder roots. It’s also common to create patterns using young walnut and coriander leaves.
Eggs are placed on green wheatgrass and remain untouched until Easter Sunday. Since Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and symbolizes new life and renewal, freshly grown wheatgrass is a key holiday decoration.
Many people grow or buy Easter grass to adorn their homes and churches with this meaningful symbol. The celebration begins in the morning with the greeting “Christ has risen” and the cracking of red eggs. The person whose Easter egg lasts the longest is declared the winner. We organize Easter rituals with local families. If you’re interested, you can find more details on our website.
Honoring Ancestors: Georgia’s Unique Easter Tradition of Remembrance
It may sound not very comforting, but this is one of the most exciting and emotional experiences you’ll ever encounter, and it’s not easy to forget.
One of the main customs of Georgians is to respect and always remember their deceased ancestors. There is an obligatory toast for the people who have passed away every time Georgians gather to drink wine. There are lots of holidays throughout the year dedicated to the ancestors. However, Easter and the holy week are primarily dedicated to them.
Since Easter marks the resurrection of Christ and symbolizes eternal life, Georgians celebrate it with the whole family, living or dead. It is a holiday when dead relatives are specially remembered and respected. People return to their places of origin to reconnect with extended family and visit the graves of their ancestors.
Monday after Easter is known as the Day of the Deceased. Families traditionally visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. We bring wine, Easter cake, red eggs, flowers, and candles. We light a candle at each gravestone in memory of our loved ones, roll an Easter egg on the grave, make a toast in remembrance, and pour some wine on the graves. This tradition of honoring the deceased with a shared meal is ancient.
However, during Soviet times, it became especially significant during the Easter holiday, as religious practices were prohibited. As a result, people began gathering in cemeteries to celebrate this momentous religious occasion.
Throughout Georgia, cemeteries are filled with people celebrating Easter on Sunday and Monday. There is no grief or sadness here, only joy and happiness in honoring life and renewal.
Experience Easter, Georgian way!
Savoring Easter with Georgian Dishes and Customs
Georgia is known for its rich and diverse cuisine. We Georgians have a deep appreciation for delicious food, and during holidays, we are particularly generous. Our feast is renowned for its abundance of delectable dishes beautifully arranged in layers on the festive table.
The list of dishes prepared for the Easter feast is incredibly long and attractive. Religious individuals fast for 40 days before Easter Sunday, avoiding foods with animal ingredients, which makes their diet mainly vegan. Therefore, a variety of meat and fish dishes are prepared for Easter.
One of the most popular meat dishes is “Chakapuli,” a lamb or veal stew that is in season during this time. It is cooked with white wine, plenty of fresh tarragon, plums, and many other herbs and spices. In western Georgia, the main dish for Easter is a roasted piglet. In addition to Chakapuli and roasted piglet, you will find fish, greens, a wide array of sauces, salads, fresh vegetables, herbs, bread, khachapuri, and, of course, plenty of Georgian wine!
One of the most delicious treats for Easter is “Paska,” a special cake baked exclusively for the holiday. The distinct oval shape of the Paska carries symbolism, representing Golgotha – the mountain where Christ was crucified. There is even an annual competition for the best homemade Paska, which is considered good if it is moderately sweet, moist, and rich with raisins and flavours of nutmeg, saffron, and cinnamon.
There is no single day of holiday in Georgia, and Easter is no exception. The week following Easter Sunday is regarded as a holy week and celebrated accordingly. Guests are especially welcomed and cherished during this time. If you visit Georgia for the Easter holiday, the best thing you can do is spend a day with a local family to experience our hospitality and centuries-old traditions.
Celebrate Traditional Easter in Georgia
Easter is the greatest Christian holiday celebrated by Christians all over the world. This day is the symbol of the victory of good over evil. Georgia has always celebrated easter in a special way.