Top Easter traditions you didn’t know about

At iute, we firmly believe that Easter is a time to reconnect with our roots, our family, and the traditions that make us feel at home. Every custom tells a story: from dyeing eggs to preparing the meal and visiting relatives.

On this occasion, the iute team decided to discover and share with you some lesser-known Easter traditions that you’ve most likely never heard of before. Here are a few traditions that make Easter so special:

• “Guarding the Fire” on Easter Eve – in some villages, young people would light large bonfires in the churchyard and keep watch over them all night long. It was believed that the fire drove away evil spirits and protected the community.

• Silence on Good Friday – in the past, in certain areas, people avoided speaking too much on Good Friday, considering the day one of total contemplation. Even work was kept to a minimum.

• Ritual bathing in rivers – on Easter morning, some would go to the river to wash themselves with “unbroken” flowing water, for health and purification.

• Burying eggs in the ground – an old custom held that red eggs buried at the edge of a field protected crops from hail and ensured a bountiful harvest.

• Washing the face with water and basil – in addition to an egg and a coin, in some areas basil was also added to the washing water, for beauty and good luck in love.

• Keeping eggshells for protection – red eggshells were not thrown away haphazardly; they were kept or cast into flowing waters to carry the news of the Resurrection “to the ends of the earth.”

• “Dousing” girls with cold water – in its older forms, the custom of dousing was much more… intense. Girls were doused with cold water from the well for health and vitality.

• Visiting godparents with Easter cake – godchildren were expected to visit their godparents with Easter cake and gifts as a sign of respect and to strengthen their spiritual bond.

• The prohibition against sleeping on Easter Sunday – it was said that those who slept on Easter Sunday would be sleepy all year long and would have misfortune in their household.

• The first person to cross your threshold – in some regions, it was believed that the first person to enter your home on Easter Sunday could influence your luck for the entire year.

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Bonus – a simple Easter recipe: Sweet Cheese Easter Cake

Ingredients:

• 500 g cottage cheese
• 3 eggs
• 150 g sugar
• 1 packet vanilla sugar
• grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons of sour cream
• raisins (optional)
• Easter cake dough (for the base)

Instructions:

1. Mix the cheese with the eggs, sugar, vanilla sugar, and lemon zest.
2. Add the sour cream and raisins.
3. Place the dough in a baking pan and pour in the mixture, then smooth it out.
4. Bake at 180°C for 40–45 minutes, until it turns golden brown.

Simple, traditional, and full of flavor – exactly how Easter at home should be: with heart, peace, and time for loved ones.