Things to do before Easter: to-do list by day

 Easter is one of the brightest and most joyful spring holidays. This year it coincided with May holidays. From time immemorial, the Slavs prepare for this day in advance: they cleanse the soul and body through Great post, tidy up the dwelling and prepare a festive meal. Even if you do not belong to deeply religious people, did not fast, and you plan to buy cakes in the store, all the same, the anticipation of the holiday gives off a slight itch in your hands. What do you need to do before Easter? Wash windows and curtains? Disassemble the rubble in the closet? Sign 18 postcards? In order not to get lost in the to-do list and have time for everything at a measured pace, make a plan of tasks for the week, devoting each day to one goal.

On the eve of Holy Week

Now is the penultimate week before Easter. It is dedicated to the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem. The Lord entered Jerusalem to suffer for us. He is already going to Golgotha, the hour of His suffering for us is approaching. It is important to take the time to attend church or at least online services. If you have not yet received the Holy Communion for the time Great Lent, do it. The sacrament is a prerequisite for fasting.

Don't put off cleaning until the last week. Start eating the elephant piece by piece. That is, clear the rubble a little bit every day. Wash curtains, wash windows, disassemble kitchen cabinets. In general, tidy up the dwelling - so that you can decorate before Easter..

Make with children easter cards and send it to relatives.

If you have long dreamed of cooking something original for Easter, now is the time to check out the new recipes. For example, practice baking craffin.

Palm Sunday: cook willow branches

Holy Week before Easter traditionally "opens" Palm Sunday. It was on this day, according to legend, that Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people lined his path with palm branches and shouted “Hosanna! Hosanna! ”, Recognizing in him the Messiah and Savior of the human race. Palm Sunday has become for the sake of folk omens: around these days, willow (or willow) branches begin to bloom in nature.

Usually on this day, the willow is consecrated in the church, after which they touch each member of the family with a twig. The procedure is accompanied by the verdict “I’m not hitting, the willow beats”. According to the beliefs, the touch of a blessed willow branch will fill the body with vigor, health and strength for a whole year. By the way, after the holiday, the branches should never be thrown away - they are left in the house near the icons until they fade, and then they are burned.

This year, because of the quarantine, people are advised to give in to church traditions in favor of common sense. Willow branches may well fulfill their symbolic function without consecration. Therefore, an important thing on Palm Sunday is to prepare the willow twigs and touch them to everyone in the family in the morning. Please note: on this day you cannot do household chores. It is advisable to postpone even the preparation of food. Therefore, do not plan a general cleaning for the Sunday before Easter. It is better to devote this day to your family and visit your parents.

Seventh week: Passionate 

This week, the church remembers the last days of Christ: the betrayal of Judas, the Last Supper, the Gethsemane prayer, arrest, interrogation, publishing and crucifixion. You can reread at home those passages from the Gospel, which recall the passion of Christ, his last days. If you have not had time to commune, you can invite the priest with the Holy Gifts to your home and take communion in private.

This is the strictest week of Lent. In it we experience what the Lord did for our salvation and try to make His sacrifice not fruitless in our life. If you have not fasted before, it is advisable to fast for at least the last week.

Great Monday: tidy up your home

Usually house cleaning on Holy Week is planned on Maundy Thursday, misunderstanding the deep meaning of the word "clean". Thursday, as one of the closest days to Christ's Resurrection, should be devoted to the purification of the soul and consciousness, and not to everyday chores. Therefore, it is best to "general" in the house on Monday. It will be easier to do this if you have already done a little of something out of long-term household chores before.

Great Tuesday: buy the necessary products

Easter, as the end of Lent, is traditionally marked among the Slavs by a large feast. This tradition is observed even by those who did not fast before the holiday. Take care of the components of your festive table and purchase the necessary ingredients for the feast and easter basket in advance. This will save you time, nerves and possibly even health. The peak of sales in stores and markets is on the eve of Easter, in the last two or three days. At this time, you can "kill" in queues for several hours. Needless to say, queues during quarantine are generally not the best place to stay. Trust me, it's better to freeze meat and get it on Friday than to brush off other people's sneezes in a crowded supermarket.

Great Wednesday: bake cakes and paint eggs

If you plan to prepare the main dishes for the Easter table yourself, then it is best to do this on Wednesday. Transfer anything that is not perishable to this day. It is clear that it is too early to cut salads and bake pork. And here Easter cakes it is quite possible to bake now. This process takes a lot of time even for the most experienced housewives, so do not plan any other activities for “baking day”. The only thing, in parallel with Easter cakes, you can immediately paint eggs. Involve assistants in the procedure: children really like magic with colored dyes or onion peels.

Maundy Thursday: prepare gifts for loved ones

Maundy Thursday for believers has always been considered a day of deep spiritual cleansing. On this day, you need to go to church services, confess and receive communion, and then be sure to devote time to prayers and reflections. Quarantine is making its own adjustments on the holidays: this year's services on Maundy Thursday are better to visit online. The rest of the time, try not to be busy with fuss and household chores. It is better to prepare small souvenirs for family and friends. While making crafts, you can slowly tell your child about the traditions of the Easter holiday, about who Jesus Christ is and why the day of his resurrection is so important for people.

Good (Good Friday): slap yourself in the arms

This day is considered the most mournful and sad in the entire Orthodox year. It was on Friday that the unrighteous judgment of Jesus Christ took place, on that day he was crucified and died on the cross. On Good Friday, the strictest fast is observed: a complete refusal of food until sunset. It is highly discouraged to fuss, put things in order in the house, finish things, buy groceries and cook Easter treats. Therefore, close your eyes to the unwashed tiles in the bathroom and mentally hit the hand that reaches for the rag. The most that you can do on this day: spend time with your family, talk, read books and watch movies. Desirable - spiritual content, or at least those that strengthen family values.

Great Saturday: keep the day of silence

Saturday in Holy Week is dedicated to preparation for the holiday. Again, this is not about everyday, but about spiritual preparations. On this day, the burial of Jesus Christ and the descent of the Son of God into hell, where he frees the souls of the dead from eternal torment, is remembered. On Saturday, the consecration of Easter cakes and eggs begins in the church, but because of Covid-19, it is advisable to conduct even this procedure online. One of the things that can be done around the house is to finish preparing the festive table, so that on the day of the Resurrection of Christ you do not stand at the stove.

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