While most Canadians have already put away their decorations, Ukrainian, Greek, and other Orthodox communities in Canada are gearing up to celebrate Easter this weekend.
Orthodox Christians, unlike the majority in Canada and worldwide, adhere to the Julian calendar, which sets their Easter celebration a week later.
In the Ukrainian community, the days leading up to Easter are spent decorating pysanky — eggs intricately dyed with wax and adorned with patterns handed down through generations. Families also partake in hayilky, traditional spring circle dances performed outdoors post-Easter to welcome the arrival of warmer weather.
At the heart of the celebration is the basket blessing, known as sviachennia in Ukrainian. Families bring elaborately prepared food baskets to the church for a priest’s blessing, signifying the end of weeks of fasting.
“We transition from fasting to feasting,” remarked Father Andrij Figol of Christ the Good Shepherd St. Michael’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Rich Traditions
For many in Toronto’s Ukrainian community, these traditions hold significance beyond religious aspects. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia four years ago, over 300,000 Ukrainians have relocated to Canada, finding solace and connection through these familiar customs.
“It’s almost like straddling between Canada and Ukraine,” noted Father Andrij.
Photographer Oksana Shtohryn from CBC attended the basket blessing ceremonies at two Ukrainian Greek Catholic churches in Toronto on April 4.
While Greek Catholics in Canada observe Easter on the same date as most Canadians, they partake in the basket blessing tradition akin to Orthodox Ukrainians, who are observing the holiday this weekend.
At Christ the Good Shepherd Church, worshippers eagerly await the basket blessing ceremony. Each basket, filled with customary foods and topped with a lit candle, is prepared at home before being brought to the church for the blessing.
(Oksana Shtohryn/CBC)
In the first image of the animated GIF, a woman in a vyshyvanka — a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt worn during religious and cultural festivities — tends to her Easter basket filled with Easter bread, eggs, butter, kielbasa, and other foods reserved for the post-fasting feast.
(Oksana Shtohryn/CBC)
Several Easter baskets line the tables as the congregation gathers, with priests leading the opening prayers before the blessing commences.
(Oksana Shtohryn/CBC)
Father Andrij blesses the baskets with holy water, sprinkling each one as he