On the evening of pure Thursday the passion service is performed, after which people return home with lighted candles. The last Sunday before Easter is called Willow Sunday. On this day pussy-willow branches are blessed in the church. Butter, lard, cheese, roast suckling pigs, sausage, smoked meat and little napkins, containing poppy seeds, horse-radish and other provisions are also blessed. After the matins the people exchange Easter greetings, give each other krashanky and then hurry home with their baskets of blessed food.
Easter is a feast of joy and gladness.
For three days people celebrate it. Nowadays Easter has been proclaimed a national holiday in Ukraine.