If you’re lucky enough to be in Georgia for Easter, you won’t see the famous bunny or go for an Easter egg hunt, but Georgian Pascha is unique with its traditions. While the days leading up to Pascha include solemn processions and liturgies, “Aghdgoma” is a joyous celebration marked with rituals. Easter Day is a public holiday in Georgia and celebrates Jesus ‘ resurrection from death.

Preparation

Preparation for Easter starts one week earlier (a week called “Holy Week”) and begins with Palm Sunday. Georgians use boxwood witches instead of palm fronds as theirs symbolic branches to decorate their homes. This change is due to the lack of local palm trees.

Following days are spent preparing food in Georgian households: baking sweet bread Paska and dyeing eggs, which is definitely done on Good Friday, the day when Christ died.

Baking Paska and dyeing eggs, are some of the most treasured holiday traditions, Paska is delicious, sweet, festive bread that is rich in butter and eggs and baked only for Easter. Despite Paskas being widely available everywhere nowadays, a home-made one has a completely different taste and its own appeal. The process of baking one is quite laborious, but greatly contributes to the festive mood. The result is definitely worth the effort.

Unlike in many other countries where eggs have become commercialized chocolate products, the Easter eggs in Georgia are actual eggs and they are red. Many Georgian households use madder roots and onion peels to dye eggs a deep red color on Good Friday before sunset. Symbolizing Christ’s resurrection and eternal life, Georgians will crack the strongest eggs on Ester Sunday morning. The family member with the least broken eggs wins.

Decorating the Easter table is another symbol. Called Jejili, the freshly grown wheat symbolizes new life and renewal.

Celebration

The  Saturday evening, before Easter Sunday is one of the most important church services which celebrates the appearance of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem. The actual celebration of Easter starts on that night, when Christians go for an overnight church service. People bring to church Ester baskets with lit candles, which are filled with the Paska, red eggs and other foods. As part of the mass, the Easter baskets are blessed by the priest, and taken home by the families to eat in the morning.

On the morning of Easter Sunday, it is a tradition to greet one another with “Christ has Risen” before even saying hello. If someone says this to you, you should reply “Indeed He has Risen!,” before continuing the conversation.

Perhaps the most unusual tradition takes place on Easter Monday when Georgians often visit the graves of their relatives, which has a significant meaning for many families.

During the communist reign, many churches were destroyed and religion was heavily discouraged. Because of this, many Georgian instead went to graveyards to pray, a tradition which has outlasted communism and become a part of Pascha celebrations.

After arriving at a grave, it is tradition to light a candle and roll one of the red eggs across the grave whilst declaring “Christ has risen! Indeed he has risen!”. This ritual is performed three times before a supra is set up at the graveside with many toasts dedicated to the deceased.

When the celebrations are finished, wine is poured on the grave, a custom called “knocking over a goblet”. Although foreigners are often stunned by such an action, Georgian believe it means they won’t be alone after death as their relatives will also them at their resting place.

If you are lucky enough to be in Tbilisi for Easter, visit a church, enjoy the festival under the warm sun rays and don’t miss the opportunity to try local Paska. 

Easter in Georgia

Easter is the greatest Christian holiday celebrated by Christians all over the world. This day is a symbol of the victory of good over evil.

Georgia, as one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, has always celebrated Easter in a special way.