Easter (Zatik in Armenian) is one of the most anticipated events in the calendar of Armenians in SA. As the first Christian nation, we are proudly carrying our faith and we are happy to see most of us celebrating this day together.
As a tradition, we greet each other on this day: “Christ has arisen”-“Blessed is the resurrection of Christ”, share a meal and – of course – we break colored eggs, the most exciting moment of the celebration! The tradition of coloring and decorating eggs dates back to the Middle Ages when eggs would be painted bright colors to welcome Spring. This tradition continued and was adapted by different Christian countries in different ways. But since then till present days Armenians have preserved the beautiful biblical lore which refers to red eggs and sweet bread. “When Christ was crucified, his mother took some eggs and bread wrapped in the shawl. When the Mother saw her Son crucified and his arms bleeding, she knelt down and cried. The Mother’s tears and Son’s blood dropping on the shawl colored the eggs and bread. Then the Mother put the shawl on her head”.
Since that day people began coloring eggs red on Easter day and women began wearing shawls when visiting church. During the Lenten fasting season of 40 days before Easter, Armenian families put lentils or other sprouting grains on a tray covered with a thin layer of cotton, and keep it in a light place of the house until Easter when sprouts appear. These green sprouts, symbolizing spring and awakening of the nature, are the “grass” on which people place colored eggs to decorate the Easter table.