Blessing Ukrainian Easter Baskets in Uzhgorod Ukraine (YouTube)

[Olga Drozd]

Blessing Ukrainian Easter Baskets in Uzhgorod Ukraine

Just after midnight on Easter in Ukraine, people begin to fill the streets and wait for the priest to come and bless their Ukrainian Easter baskets. Thousands of people line the streets. It is an amazing sight. Each basket is placed on the ground with a lit candle. The priest sings songs over the loud speakers and reads prayers. Then he comes by with a bucket of water and a brush and splashes holy water on people and their baskets. This tradition was forbidden under Communist rule. In 1991 Ukraine became independent from USSR. They won their freedom of speech, expression, and religion. Slowly, year after year, people have returned to the streets to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ has risen! He has truly risen!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apmMRyAdWV4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apmMRyAdWV4</a>