3. Holy Week
In Christianity is the week just
before Easter. It is also the last
week of Lent, and includes
Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday
(Spy Wednesday), Maundy
Thursday (Holy Thursday),
Good Friday (Holy Friday), and
Holy Saturday. It does not
include Easter Sunday, which is
the beginning of another
liturgical week.
Holy Week in the Christian year
is the week immediately before
Easter.
English: Holy Week
Bulgarian: Страстна седмица
(Passion week)
Greek: γία κα Μεγάλη βδομάςἉ ὶ Ἑ
(Holy and Great Week)
Romanian:
Turkish:
4. Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus is a
miracle of Jesus. This miracle
happened in Saturday, the day
before the Palm day, when
Jesus came in Jerusalem. This
miracle showing him as master
over death. In Bulgaria we
celebrate Lazarica or
Lazarovden - Day of Lazarus.
The story is told only in the
Gospel of John.
English: Raising of Lazarus
Bulgarian: Lazarov den,
Lazaritsa
(Day of Lazar)
Greek:
Romanian:
Turkish:
On this day in Bulgaria perform custom Lazaruvane.The young women called "lazarki"
pick flowers for gums that will embroil the feast of Palm Sunday (the next day). Girls
are dressed in traditional folk costumes.
5. Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)
Jesus gave The Last Supper with
his Twelve Apostles, then He
washed feet of the Apostles.
The Anointing (Holy Unction) is
in commemoration of the
anointing of Jesus, and a
preparation of the faithful to
enter with Christ into his death
and Resurrection.
English: Mass of the Lord's
The Last supper
Bulgarian: Тайната вечеря
(The Secret Dinner)
Greek:
Romanian:
Turkish:
In this day in Bulgaria we paint eggs.
6. Good Friday
The Church mourns for
Christ's death, reveres the
Cross, and marvels at his
life for his obedience until
death.
In this day Jesus was
passing the road to
Calvary or Golgotha, was
crucified on the cross and
died.
In Bulgaria believers pass
underneath a special
table, which is a symbol of
the laying of Jesus in the
tomb.
English: Good Friday
Bulgarian: Разпети петък
“Friday of crucifix”
Greek:
Romanian:
Turkish:
7. Holy Saturday
In this day all people
sorrow over the death
of Jesus who died on
the Cross.
English: Holy Saturday
Bulgarian: Велика събота
(Great Saturday)
Greek:
Romanian:
Turkish:
In this day in Bulgaria we prepare “kozunak”.
8. Easter Vigil
The Paschal Vigil begins around 11:00 pm with the chanting of the Midnight.
Afterwards, all of the lighting in the church is extinguished and all remain in
silence and darkness until the stroke of midnight. Then, the priest lights a single
candle from the eternal flame on the altar. The light is spread from person to
person until everyone holds a lighted candle.
The procession then circles around the outside of the church and recreate the
journey to the Tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning. The procession stops in
front of the closed doors of the church. The opening of these doors symbolized the
"rolling away of the stone" from the tomb and all people enter in the church.
English: Paschal vigil
Bulgarian: Пасхално бдение
(Paschal vigil )
Greek:
Romanian:
Turkish:
9. Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday, which immediately
follows Holy Week and begins with
the Easter Vigil, is the great feast
day and apogee of the Christian
liturgical year: on this day the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ is
celebrated. The Resurrection of
Christ on Easter Sunday is the main
reason why some of Christians keep
Sunday as the primary day of
religious observance.
In Bulgaria on Sunday, because Lent is over, the tradition is to have a table laden
with food, the most important of which is lamb. In Eastern Europe, this is particularly
important, as Orthodox believers relate it to the death of Jesus Christ, because a
lamb is believed to have been sacrificed in the name of Christ on Resurrection day.
11. Easter derives its name from Eostre. She is Anglo-Saxon
goddess of spring.
Based on the similarity of their names, some connect Eostre
with Ishtar, the Babylonian and Assyrian goddess of love
and fertility, or with Izida, goddess in ancient Egypt. She is
sister of Osiris.
Christian Easter gradually absorbed the traditional spring
symbols of ancient people.
ANCIENT SPRING GODDESS
12. EASTER EGGS
The eggs have been viewed as symbols of new
life and fertility through the ages. It is believed
that for this reason many ancient cultures,
including the Ancient Egyptians, Persians, and
Romans, used eggs during their spring
festivals.
Many traditions and practices have formed
around Easter eggs. The coloring of eggs is a
established art, and eggs are often dyed,
painted, and otherwise decorated. Eggs were
also used in various holiday games. Parents
hide eggs for children to find them. Children
roll eggs down hills.
Eggs are cracked after the midnight service and
over the next few days. People take turns in
tapping their eggs against the eggs of others,
and the person who ends up with the last
unbroken egg is believed to have a year of
good luck.
13. EASTER CAKES AND SWEET BREADS
Kozunac is a sweet ritual
bread traditionally prepared
for Easter. It symbolize the
body of Jesus Christ, as
painted red eggs symbolize his
blood.
According to popular belief
the story of the cake began in
the early 17th century in
France, where it is carried
throughout Europe.
First time in Bulgaria kozunak
is prepared in Shumen, in the
middle of 19th century.
14. Hares and rabbits have long been
symbols of fertility. Also some peoples
baked cakes for Easter in the shape of
bunny. Children love chocolate bunnies
and eggs.
Legend of the Easter Bunny
Rumors of Easter rabbit go from 13th century, the area of present-day
Germany. There each spring people worshiped the fertility goddess Eostre and
her honor organized lavish celebrations. Legends say that one of the symbols of
the goddess and her right hand was a beautiful bird. One day the bird suddenly
turned into a hare. But as the rabbit remained with the soul of a bird, he
continued to make nests and filled them with colored eggs.
THE EASTER BUNNY
15. EASTER CARDS
Easter cards arrived from Victorian England, when a stationer added
a greeting to a drawing of a rabbit.
16. EASTER PARADES
In Medieval Europe, churchgoers would take a walk after Easter Mass,
led by a crucifix or the Easter candle. Today these walks endure as
Easter Parades and festivals.
18. Great Monday
In Great Monday start of the great Easter
cleaning, which is mandatory for every home.
Great Monday is the last of the days in which
people can to travel.
20. Great Wednesday
On this day women are not allowed to do anywork (cleaning, laundry, sewing, cooking, etc.)
Maundy Thursday is destined for
the ritual painting of eggs, the first
always red. With painting the eggs
take the oldest woman in the
family. First painted egg is placed
before the icon home and keep
until the next Holy Thursday.
21. Good Friday
In this day Jesus Christ was crucified. Not doing any work,
because it is believed that if people do not respect this decree will
be hit by misfortune.
Strictly prohibited songs and fun. So man symbolically purified of
their sins and leave all burdens and problems in the hands of God.
During the Good Friday fast in the Orthodox Church is very strict -
then neither eat nor drink even water. In Great Friday prepare
sweet ritual breads – kozunak.
22. Holy Saturday
On this day is customary for
women to visit the cemetery to give
away painted eggs and bread for
the souls of the dead.
Lunch is allowed housework, which
later in the day to prohibit all.
Great Saturday is the last day you
can paint eggs for Easter.
23. Христос воскресе!
Воистина воскресе!
Hristos a înviat!
Adevărat a înviat!
Χριστός α̉νέστη!
’Aληθω̃ς α̉νέστη!
Christ is risen!
Truly, He is risen!
In the church exactly at 00.00 hours leading
priest three times proclaims the resurrection of
Christ with the words: "Christ is Risen", where
worshipers meet: 'He truly risen ".
