Written by Eva Kisalita, Sofia Dabica and Vlad Brujdu from Romania

For us in Romania, Paște (Easter) is way more than just a long weekend—it’s that one time of the year that the whole country feels like it’s collectively holding its breath (and its stomach):). It’s the absolute peak of our traditions, starting with a grueling 40-day fast where everyone suddenly rediscovers their love for vegetables while secretly dreaming of a steak. By Good Friday, the mood gets heavy and quiet as we head to the church to walk under the Sfântul Epitaf, a solemn reminder of why this all matters.

Everything peaks at midnight on Saturday for the Resurrection Mass. It’s honestly a vibe like no other—standing in a sea of people waiting for the priest to bring out the «Holy Light.» Once he does that, the dark streets instantly turn into a glowing river of candles. The real challenge, though, is the high-stakes obstacle course of getting that flame home through the windy streets without it blowing out—or accidentally singing your neighbor’s jacket.

On Sunday, the house becomes a happy, chaotic mess. We kick things off with the «egg tapping» battle, where you try to crack someone else’s red egg while saying «Hristos a înviat!»(Christ is risen!) and the other saying «Adevărat a înviat!»(Truly he is risen!).It’s all fun and games until you realize your cousin is definitely cheating with a wooden egg or an Guinea fowl egg.

The table is a total marathon: you’ve got Drob (lamb haggis that tastes way better than it sounds), sour lamb soup, and enough Pască and Cozonac to feed a small army. By the time you’re on your third slice of sweet cheese bread, you’ve reached a state of spiritual and culinary bliss. It’s that unique mix of deep, old-school faith and a collective family food coma that makes Romanian Easter feel like home.

Easter is the most religious holiday in Romania, because it celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection. The Holy Week commemorates the seven days leading up to Easter, where we do intense fasting, specialized church services and deep cleaning homes, and the Good Friday commemorates the cruxifixion of Jesus Christ, where we paint red eggs, to mourn His death.

The Resurrection Night: Midnight Mass at the church is the premier celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, held between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday.We celebrate Easter Sunday by gathering ( family members ) and having our first meal after a 40-day fasting period of time, along with breaking red-dyed eggs with the phrase “Christ is risen!”Some traditional main courses are: Lamb, red-dyed eggs, drob and pasca. Some desserts are: Pasca and cozonac.Easter in Romania is unique because everyone takes it very seriously, including the fasting.

Easter is the most important Christian holiday in Romania,celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ, the victoryover death and the promise of eternal life.It symbolizes the transition from sin to salvation, a period ofspiritual renewal, joy and family reunion, marked by profoundtraditions such as the dyeing of eggs on Thursday and the Resurrection service on Saturday, during Holy Week, when all the Comens go to their church at midnight to get the Light of the resurrection.On Sunday, first day of Easter, we eat at home with the whole family at a big table and have a lots of food.The traditional Romanian Easter food is lamb shank, lamb roast, Boeuf salad, andas dessert: cake with cocoa ( cozonac ), pie with sweet cheese ( pască ).At the table, first, we crack red eggs, and say “ Hristos a Inviat!” “Christ has Risen!” and answer with “ Adevarat a Inviat!” “He truly rose again!”What is specific to our Easter would be the dyeing of eggs in red which symbolizesthe blood of Jesus, as well as the oratorical chant, when we say ‘’ Hristos a Înviat’’-‘’Adevărat a Înviat’’, the Easter service, when Romanians go to church at midnightto take the Light of resurrection, and the traditional food.