Preparing for Easter during Holy Week: when to bake cakes, paint eggs, and clean the house

The Feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ is the main day of the year for all Orthodox Christians. Easter is not only the joy of spiritual renewal, but also a time of special traditions that you need to prepare for in advance. In 2025, Easter is celebrated on April 20. The entire Holy Week preceding it is filled with sacred meaning. When to bake cakes, paint eggs, clean the house, and which days are better to devote to prayer rather than business — in the Izvestia article.

When to bake Easter cakes in 2025

Cakes are traditionally baked in the last days before Easter, so that they are fresh for the festive table. In 2025, the best days for baking cakes are considered to be:

— Thursday, April 17th, Great (Pure) Thursday;

— Saturday, April 19th, Great Saturday.

Maundy Thursday is considered the most favorable and "canonical" day. In 2025, it's April 17th.

On this day, they not only clean themselves and their homes, but also start baking cakes and painting eggs. It is believed that this day should be spent in a good mood and with pure thoughts, because thoughts will definitely be "transferred" to baking.

The cakes should not only be baked, but also consecrated, this is usually done later — on Holy Saturday evening or on Easter day itself. In some churches, cakes can be consecrated immediately after the service on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

When to paint eggs for Easter

Painted eggs are a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Sepulchre and life, because they are solid on the outside, but they keep life inside.

Red is traditionally used for painting as a symbol of the blood of Christ, and at the same time it is the color of the joy of the victory of life over death — Resurrection. But today, other natural and food coloring materials are also popular, as well as various decorative techniques.

You can also color the eggs later, for example, on Holy Saturday, April 19th.

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When to clean the house during Holy Week in 2025

Cleaning the house before Easter has not only hygienic, but also spiritual significance — the house is cleansed of all bad things, preparing for the celebration of the Resurrection.

The best time for general cleaning:

— Monday–Wednesday, April 14-16, 2025 — on these days you can clean, wash, wash windows, take out the trash, put everything in order;

— Maundy Thursday, April 17th, is the symbolic completion of cleaning, cleansing not only the house, but also the soul. It is customary to take a shower on this day.

It is better not to carry out general cleaning after Clean Thursday. Friday and Saturday are days of special prayer and silence.

When to attend worship during Easter Week

Believers try to visit the temple throughout Easter week. Festive liturgies are held every day. But the main event, of course, is considered to be the Easter night service.:

— Midnight service from April 19th to 20th starts around 23:00 or a little later;

— The procession is a symbol of the transition from pagan ignorance to the light of Christ's teaching, it begins either at 23:45 or at midnight.;

Matins and Liturgy are part of the divine service following the procession. It begins with the great litany and includes the culmination of the feast — the Christening. After the Christening, the Catechumenary of St. John Chrysostom, the Gospel, is read, and finally communion takes place.

On which days of Holy Week it is forbidden to do anything

Some days of Holy Week are especially strict — it is a time of sorrow, reflection and spiritual concentration.

It is strictly forbidden throughout the week.:

— organize or participate in festivities and celebrations;

— to start quarrels and conflicts, to swear and to think about sinful things;

— drink alcohol.

In 2025, special attention should be paid to the days:

Good Friday (April 18) is the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, on this day it is forbidden:

— have fun, turn on loud music;

— do household chores (cleaning, laundry, needlework);

— work if there is an opportunity to postpone;

— to cook something complicated, the food on this day should be as simple as possible or completely absent until the evening.

Great Saturday (April 19) is a day of rest and expectation of the Resurrection.

On this day, it is advisable to avoid heavy physical work, but you can make the last preparations for Easter, including the consecration of food.