On April 24, Orthodox Christians, including Georgians, celebrated the holiday of Easter.
Georgians preserve particular traditions around Easter.
Georgian households dye Easter eggs red on Red (Good) Friday. The red-shelled eggs represent the blood of Christ.
People bake or buy a special Easter cake Paska. Paska symbolizes Golgotha, the site where Jesus was crucified.
On Saturday night, the day before Easter Sunday, the most devoted Orthodox Christians go to church and attend an overnight special service conducted in almost every church across the country.
The day after Easter, Georgians take food and wine to cemeteries and feast near the graves of their loved ones. They perform egg-tapping and egg-rolling traditions to tell their ancestors that Jesus has risen. The cracking of eggs symbolizes his resurrection from the dead. Georgians usually leave lit candles at the graveside and roll the red eggs across the grave.
Image: Prominent Georgian 19th century artist, Primitivist Niko Pirosmani – “Lamb and Easter Supper” (1914)
