Danica Petrovic from Skopje on Good Friday traditions: The first dyed egg is given to children for health

On Good Friday, the day of Christ’s suffering on Golgotha, Orthodox Christians traditionally dye eggs, starting with red ones. Danica Petrovic, a retiree from Skopje, continues to follow these Easter customs. She explains that the first dyed egg is taken to children and gently circled around their faces with a wish for health and rosy cheeks, like the red Easter egg.

Danica explains that egg-dyeing actually begins on Holy Thursday, when typically three eggs are dyed before sunrise. The rest are dyed on Good Friday and even on Holy Saturday.

“On Good Friday, the first dyed egg is brought to the children and circled around their faces with a wish that they be healthy and rosy, like the Easter egg. On that day, last year’s egg is thrown into water, and a new one is placed in its spot and kept for the whole year,” this devoted woman says.

The eggs are most often dyed red, but modern homemakers use a variety of colors and techniques, even decorating them artistically with stones, pearls, flower petals, and decoupage.

“In the past, eggs were dyed naturally, most often with onion skins, beets, red paprika, parsley leaves, or other flowers. Now, technology has advanced, and modern homemakers are finding new ways to dye Easter eggs,” Petrovic adds.

As tradition dictates, the first egg tapping takes place on Sunday just after midnight, after the Easter liturgy in church.

“People gather in front of the church and tap eggs with each other. That’s when the fast is broken. On Easter, families gather at the table, and by tradition, lamb is roasted, lamb stew is served, along with various sweets like sherbet, kadaif, baklava, and cakes. The day is celebrated within the family so that everyone may be happy,” Danica explains of the Easter customs.

The Easter feast, she says, is always the richest of the year.

“Everyone tries to put as many dishes on the table as they can, within their means, of course,” she notes.

Danica reminds us that Easter is the most important holiday for Christians.

“That is when people visit their relatives, bring eggs, tap them together, and spend the day celebrating the holiday,” Danica Petrovic added.