Believers in northern Moldova preserve ancestral Easter rituals with care
In the north of the country, after they attended church on Easter night, believers uphold traditions just as they learned from their parents when they were children. On the morning of the first day of Easter, children wash their faces with water from a bowl containing a red egg, a white egg, and some coins, so they may be healthy all year, have rosy cheeks, and be as clean as silver.
In Romanian folk tradition, Easter eggs are believed to have miraculous powers: they cure diseases and protect household animals.
*"It is a very beautiful tradition that we remember every Easter."
"We got this tradition from our grandparents and parents, they told us about this tradition and we are glad that we found out about it".
After washing, family members crack an egg each, with the traditional "Christ is Risen!"
"I went to the Holy Church, we go every year with my family. We stay until morning and, returning home, we greet each other with "Christ is Risen", and "Truly is Risen". We try to keep the traditions left by our parents and grandmothers, we wash our faces with red and white eggs, then we go to our parents' house," said Nina Lozan, a resident of Soroca.
Christians greet each other with "Christ is Risen!", "Truly He is Risen!" for 40 days, from Easter until the Ascension of Jesus Christ.
