Borrowing from Russia or Ukrainian tradition: did our ancestors eat on the leading Sunday at the graves

The long stay of Ukraine under the power of Russia led to the fact that that many of our traditions have disappeared, instead they have been planted by others. Disputes often arise as to whether it is a Ukrainian custom to eat at graves on Memorial Sunday.

Did Ukrainians eat at graves on Memorial Sunday

This is a very old memorial tradition. There are reasons to believe that it existed even before Christianity. On the leading Sunday, people carried paska, krashanka, sausage to the graves, arranged a joint feast there and remembered the dead, they could even drink a glass of vodka. It was all connected with honoring the dead, says the ethnologist.

At the same time, she notes that there was no such tradition in the Greek-Catholic Church.

In some areas of the Lviv Region, krashankas were carried to graves. This can be considered an echo of the ancient custom of treating the dead. Because they believed that during this period their souls are present on Earth and they should be treated so that they are kind to the living and help them in everything, Kryvenko explains.

Ethnographic data also show that special benches were even made in Polissia for meals at the cemetery. Also, in the past, a tablecloth could be spread even on the graves and they were treated from there.

In recent years, priests are against this tradition, although everything depends on the region, says the scientist.

She adds that some are now opposed to such a tradition, because the food on the graves can attract stray dogs, who then spread it throughout the cemetery.

Kryvenko also said that in ancient times, in some regions, the paska that was baked first and consecrated was put on the graves. Sometimes the ancestors, going to the cemetery, distributed paskas to the poor. The people believed that then the prayer for dead relatives would be effective and the Lord would definitely hear it.