Easter is one of the most significant annual festivities in Georgia. Since the country is predominantly Orthodox Christian, however, it is celebrated a bit differently than by Western Christians – there is no Easter bunny and chocolate eggs. But there are other treats and traditions that make Easter beloved and unique in Georgia. So before coming to the country during this festivity, you need to know how to celebrate it like a local.
Begin growing Easter grass
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One of the first things locals do prior to Easter festivities is to grow jejili – wheatgrass on a plate one week before Easter Sunday. You need to wet cotton pads in water and set them on a plate. Sprinkle a handful of wheat grains and let it develop roots and grow. According to Christians, green grass signifies the new life Jesus Christ gave us after his resurrection.
Dye eggs in red on Red Friday
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Good Friday is called Red Friday in Georgian and it is a public holiday in the country. The day is dedicated to preparing eggs – they have to be dyed red before sunset. The best way to do this is to use madder roots or red onion peels. Boil them and let the eggs soak in the reddened water. Locals think that eggs symbolize Christ’s rebirth and his eternal life.
Attend a church service
Orthodox Christians believe in the Holy Fire, which appears as a miracle on Great Saturday – the day before Easter – at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Georgian Christians celebrate the miracle by going to church on Saturday and attending a special service called litanioba. The service includes the delivery of the Holy Fire, when a special delegation joins the congregation and brings lit candles all the way from Jerusalem.
If you are into observing religious traditions you can also witness the night service leading up to Sunday morning. All churches in Georgia perform this special Easter service and many believers pull all-nighters to attend.
Crack red eggs
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On Easter Sunday people also bring out eggs they’ve prepared on Red Friday. It is customary to crack them in a competition, where one person taps the opponent’s egg with theirs and attempts to crack it – that little ritual is usually accompanied by the Easter Greeting and is especially popular among children. Pro tip: When choosing your egg, slightly rap it on your teeth. Whichever makes the clearest sound, tends to be the strongest.
Take advantage of the fasting menus at restaurants
Like in Western Christianity, Orthodox Christians observe Lent for 40 days before Easter. That means that a lot of people abstain from meat and animal products during that period. So some Georgian restaurants offer special “fasting menus,” which consist of vegan options. Georgian dishes are often heavy on meat, so exploring lesser-known vegan options can be a refreshing change leading up to Easter.
Eat Easter specialities
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There is no Easter in Georgia without paska, the traditional Easter pastry which resembles the Italian panettone a little bit – we promise you, you will smell fresh paska at the doors of every bakery. This mountain-shaped sweetened bread is usually filled with raisins or dried fruit and topped with white chocolate glaze. You can eat it as desert or pair it with eggs for breakfast.
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Another Easter speciality is chakapuli. It is a meat stew, made of lamb or mutton, cooked with fresh plums, tarragon and lots of spices. Chalapuli is one of the essential items on the Georgian menu, so do not miss the opportunity to try it.
Learn the Easter greeting in Georgian
On Sunday, when Georgians wake up, before saying “good morning” or “hello” to each other, they say “Christ has Risen!”, which in Georgian would be “Qriste Aghsdga”. The response is “Cheshmaritad Aghstda”, meaning “Indeed He has Risen!”. Afterward, you can continue the conversation naturally. In the week following Easter, Georgians continue to use that greeting, so don’t be surprised to hear it in taxis or supermarket conversations.
Attend a special church ceremony
A miraculous appearance of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem is the most meaningful is the miraculous appearance of Easter. Therefore, Georgians go to church on Saturday evening, the day before Easter Sunday, to join Litonioba, the celebratory service. People pray, listen to the Catholicos-Patriarch’s speech and wait for the delegation to bring the Holy Fire from Jerusalem.
Pay your respects to the deceased
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During the week immediately after Easter, Georgians visit resting places of their loved ones to pay their respects. They also bring red eggs and leave them at the grave sites. According to tradition, the ritual has two purposes – to let the deceased know that they are remembered and missed, and also to celebrate the miracle of resurrection with them.
The atmosphere at cemeteries is unusually cheerful during that time, because extended families come together, offer toasts in honor of the deceased and turn the occasion into little feasts.
