Easter is Christianity’s most important holiday. On Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The exact origins of this religious feast day’s name are unknown. Some sources claim the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. In Spanish and Italian, Easter is known as Pascua; in French, Paques. These words are derived from the Greek and Latin Pascha or Pasch, for Passover. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection occurred after he went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew), the Jewish festival commemorating the ancient Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. Pascha eventually came to mean Easter.
Easter has in Slovenia many colourful traditions and customs dating centuries into the past. It has been important feast for the people of Slovenia.
The begining of the Holy week is Palm Sunday. Bunches of spring greenery are blessed. The Christian custom of plaiting bundles dates to the 9th century, and probably derives from a custom known throughout pagan medieval Europe. These bundles, of different shapes and sizes, are known by different names in different parts of Slovenia. The most special of all bundles is the BUTARICA. They are renowned abroad for being the only bundles of their kind. The easiest way to acquire them is to go to Ljubljana’s flower market, near the Cathedral.
On Holy Saturday in towns and villages people bless their Easter meals. In our typical Slovenian basket that is beeing brought to the church you are going to find: ham, bread, horseradish, a special Slovenian cake, POTICA (wallnut cake) and colourful decorated eggs, in Slovenia called PIRHI, pisanice, pisanke (in Bela krajina), remenice or remenke (in Prekmurje).
Blessed and coloured eggs are a long-lasting tradition of the Slovenes and are among the most beautiful in Europe. Pisanice and remenice are typical and well-known because of their characteristic geometrical and stylised forms. On the other hand, Easter eggs in the Primorska and Gorenjska region feature mostly nature motifs, usually flowers and plants. In the painting of pisanice special wooden instruments are used. Few years ago, a local artist Franc Grum started to make unique lace eggs: eggs that are decorated sometimes with over 17.000 holes and making a beautiful lace look.
Come and visit us at this time of the year. Let's welcome Spring together! We are sure you are going to experience something unique and memorable!
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