After Great Lent, the bright holiday of Easter awaits us. He, like many church holidays, is associated with many traditions, each of which has its own explanation. A generously laid Easter table as a symbol of joy is one of them.
Our ancestors respected Easter and on this day they covered the table with a snow-white tablecloth and exhibited the most beautiful dishes. Wealthy owners served 48 dishes on Easter – according to the number of days of the expired fast.
The most important place on the table was given to three main dishes: Easter cake, cottage cheese Easter and colored boiled eggs.
Also, a figurine of a lamb made of dough or butter was put on the table. The hostesses cut such lambs out of butter with a knife and fork.
According to tradition, a dish with sprouted grain took its place on the Easter table as a symbol of resurrection and rebirth. A bouquet of fresh flowers (tulips, daffodils, etc.) or pots (for example, crocuses) are also suitable. Flowers will not only delight the eye, but will also fill the room with a light spring scent.
What to cook
Various meat snacks prevail on the festive table, because the fast is over and it’s time to celebrate. The meat can be either cold snacks or hot dishes. A baked suckling pig or stuffed poultry is a good option. As well as jellied meat, stuffed vegetables, cabbage rolls, casseroles, beef kidney kale with pickles, liver oil seal, stewed buckwheat porridge with lamb meat.
Salads on this day are best done as light as possible, such that they only complement the main dishes.
Of the drinks, homemade liqueurs, liqueurs and wines, jelly and sbitni are most suitable. And, of course, the traditional Easter drink – Cahors.
But lean dishes on this day will clearly be inappropriate. Well, maybe there are vegetarians at the table.
By the way, our ancestors considered it wrong to throw away the remains of consecrated dishes – be it a pie, eggs or Easter cake. They were buried in the field so that the soil was fertile and gave a lot of crops this year. As a reminder, earlier we talked about what else you can do with the remains of Easter cakes and shared inspirational tips on how to decorate windows for Easter.
Have a nice holiday!