Eastern Orthodox Christians observe Easter on May 5. Why so much later this year?

For many Christians, Easter was celebrated this year on March 31. But for Eastern Orthodox Christians, the celebration of Jesus Christ's Resurrection occurs more than a month later, on May 5.

Most years, the difference between Catholic and Orthodox Easter is just a week. In other years, they're even celebrated on the same day; that will be the case in 2025.

So why the wide gap between the two Easters this year?

The reason dates back to the 16^th century, when the West stopped following the tradition of Easter being after Passover, according to Rev. Dr. Demetrios Tonias, director of the undergraduate program of theology at Hellenic College in Brookline.

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According to Tonias, Catholics follow the Gregorian calendar. But Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after Passover, after the vernal equinox, based on the spring lunar calendar.

“It’s different every year because of the phases of the moon in relation to the calendar,” Tonias wrote in an email.

There are many unique traditions followed by Greek Orthodox Christians during the week leading up to Easter, including coloring eggs red; getting anointed with holy oil; an outdoor procession on Good Friday evening; walking underneath a miniature tomb carrying an embroidered cloth of Christ; fireworks at midnight on Easter Sunday; and attempts to bring lit candles home from church after the midnight service.

“We focus on the Resurrection," Tonias wrote. "Catholics focus on the cross and suffering of Christ."

Tonias and Rev. Athanasios Nenes, of the Taxiarchae Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Watertown, addressed the meaning behind these traditions.

Greek Orthodox Christians get anointed with holy oil at Holy Unction

On the Wednesday before Easter, Greek Orthodox Christians can become anointed with holy oil during what's called the Holy Unction service.

The priest takes a cotton swab with holy oil on the tip and makes the sign of the cross on the recipient’s forehead, cheeks, chin and the top of the hands and palms.

“It’s for healing and forgiveness, but doesn't substitute the confession,” said Nenes, who has served the Taxiarchae Church since 2015 and was ordained 31 years ago.

The Epitaphio/Body and Tomb of Christ

On the Friday before Greek Orthodox Easter, Good Friday, Nenes will officiate services all day, reenacting the suffering and death of Christ and his burial.

On Good Friday evening, the body of Christ, which is symbolized by an embroidered cloth and placed inside a wooden tomb called a kouvouklion, is decorated with fresh flowers and carried outside the church. A procession takes place, with all parishioners behind it, walking around the church together holding lit candles.

The tomb is then placed in an elevated position at the entrance to the church. Parishioners walk underneath it as they reenter as a sign of faith and humility, according to Nenes.

At the conclusion of the service, the priest removes the flowers from the tomb and hands them to parishioners as they exit to take home and place beside their icons.

Flame at Resurrection service symbolizes Christ's life

Everyone who attends the Resurrection service the night before Easter is given an unlit candle. Just before midnight, one candle is lit and its light is passed from person to person. The flame symbolizes Christ’s life and Resurrection, said Tonias.

When the clock strikes midnight, attendees raise their lit candles, making the sign of the cross and singing a hymn, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life.”

At the same time, many Greek Orthodox churches throughout the world set off fireworks at midnight. Church bells are rung.

“It’s an expression of joy,” said Nenes.

After the service, many people attempt to keep one candle lit and bring it home. If the lit candle makes it home, they make the sign of the cross with the candle at their entry, to bless the home.

Eggs are dyed red, symbolizing the blood of Christ

Dyeing hard-boiled eggs red is another tradition of Greek Orthodox Christians. The color red symbolizes the blood of Christ, the paschal Lamb of the temple, wrote Tonias.

On Easter Sunday, people crack the red eggs together, saying, “Christ is risen.”

If an egg fails to crack during this process, it's considered lucky. Many people save that egg for the year.

“It’s a sign of victory,” said Nenes. “The breaking of the egg can symbolize the defeat of evil.”

Cracked eggs can be used to make egg salad, but don’t be surprised if the white of the eggs has a pink hue from the red dye.