Lviv has always been noted for its adherence to the traditional Ukrainian culture, and that is why tourists are surrounded by a special charm here. The people of Lviv cherish the customs of the past, but they also like new kinds of entertainment stylized to resemble the archaic ones, and especially it is about the celebrations of Easter.

Luminous Easter is a family celebration. In Lviv, this atmosphere is all pervasive as everyone knows that the family spirit can be perceived in every single church, on all city squares, and in the city streets, where traditional festivities take place during the Easter period. Exhibitions, concerts, theatrical dramas are programmed here, whereas colorful “hayivky” (ritual round dances and games) announce the coming of spring in nature and in our hearts.

We invite you to come to Lviv and to live authentic national Ukrainian Easter traditions.

VISIT

EASTER IN Lviv (UKRAINE)

Easter (in Ukrainian: 'Velykden' (eng. The Great Day) or 'Paskha') – the feast of Christ’s Resurrection, and the major Ukrainian religious holiday. The Great Day is preceded by seven weeks of the Great Lent. The last week of the Lent is called the Holy Week. During this week all preparations for the holy day are done: housecleaning, cooking, baking, making Easter eggs (pysanky), etc. Therefore, the Easter is the most busy and cheerful holiday.

Day 1 – Friday, 13 April 2012

GOOD FRIDAY
A fast abstaining from meat and dairy products is observed and no manual labour of any kind is permitted. Conversation is muted and must avoid argument. Good Friday observances include the Veneration of the Holy Shroud. The Holy Shroud is the representation of the sheet that Christ was buried in. The Holy Shroud is placed on a representative tomb and is surrounded by willows, candles and flowers.

Arrival to Lviv
Accommodation
Lviv at a first glance.
At this day Lviv is perfectly silent and mysterious.

Day 2 – Saturday, 14 April 2012

HOLY SATURDAY
At this day parishioners visit the Holy Shroud to worship and kiss the wounds of Christ. A guard of honour keeps vigil at the Holy Sepulchre. Fasting is continued to prepare the soul for purity of confession on the Great Day.
Excursion in downtown (sightseeing, first outside Easter preparations)

Day 3 – Sunday, 15 April 2012

EASTER SUNDAY
The Great Day starts at midnight with church ceremonies that include a ritual procession with the Holy Shroud "plashchenytsia" followed by a joyful Mass celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. After Easter Mass, or the next morning if you attended Midnight Mass, families share the foods that were blessed in the Easter baskets. The Easter basket traditionally contains ham, roasted lamb (symbolizing Jesus), sausages, butter, cheese, Paska, horseradish and salt.

The specially-baked Easter bread, called paska, has great symbolic significance in Ukraine. The baker of the bread must keep her thoughts pure and the household must remain quiet for the bread to retain its fluffy texture while in the oven. It is customary to keep the baking of the paska a strictly family affair; neighbors or strangers are not permitted to enter the house while the paska is being prepared. In ancient times, the man of the house would stand guard at the door while the paska loaf was being made to prevent any intruders from casting the “evil eye” onto the bread and thus threatening the family’s prosperity for the coming year.

Holly dinner in Ukrainian family.

Day 4 – Monday, 16 April 2012

At this days people in downtown play various Easter games. Favorite children Easter game: knocking the painted eggs (krashanky) – if you knock somebody’s egg and you egg is not broken – you are the winner.
There is also the rite of sprinkling with water, which is still carried on in Western Ukraine on the second day of Easter (Wet Monday, Oblyvanyi ponedilok); it is practiced by young people, the boys usually splashing the girls with water.
Easter celebrations in downtown.

Day 5 – Tuesday, 17 April 2012

Departure

Price for the tour per person:
500 USD, 360 EUR

The price includes:
Transfer from/to the hotel, apartment;
Accommodation (single room in ***hotel, one-room apartment);
2 hour excursion around Lviv;
Holiday dinner in Ukrainian family
English speaking assistance.