Belarusians celebrate Radonitsa

Belarusians are celebrating Radonitsa (Easter of the departed).

Radonitsa is celebrated a week after Pascha (Easter). Hundreds of people go to cemeteries to tidy family graves and commemorate the departed.

Visitors often bring Easter eggs, cakes, bread and candies to graves. They also bring glasses of vodka or wine for the dead. Christian priests do not welcome the tradition of talking near graves and leaving food of the dead considering the habits to be pagan.

Radonitsa is one of the main Belarusian holidays.

Picture from “Svoboda” newspaper