When to bake Easter bread and dye eggs before Easter 2026: days when it is and isn’t permissible to bake Easter bread
7 April 04:04
In the days leading up to Easter, which will be celebrated on April 12 in 2026, Ukrainian housewives traditionally begin actively preparing for the holiday: they take out their baking pans, prepare the dough, and make the icing for the Easter cake and the dyes for the Easter eggs. At the same time, it is believed that on certain days one should not bake Easter bread or dye eggs, as this may bring misfortune.
Find out which days to bake Easter cakes so as “not to invite trouble” in this article "Komersant Ukrainian"
Easter 2026: Key Dates
Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter 2026 on April 12. The most important days of Holy Week are counted from this date:
- Maundy Thursday—April 9;
- Good Friday—April 10;
- Holy Saturday—April 11;
- Easter – April 12.
It is on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday that the main preparations for Easter traditionally take place.
When is the best time to bake Easter cakes in 2026
1) Maundy Thursday. In most Ukrainian families, Maundy Thursday is considered the most auspicious day for baking Easter cakes. On this day, people clean their homes, tidy up the kitchen, prepare the starter, knead the dough, and bake the festive bread.
In folk tradition, there is a superstition associated with this day: one must not sit down while the Easter cakes are baking, as the festive baked goods might “fall.”
2) Holy Saturday. If you were unable to bake Easter cakes on Maundy Thursday, you can also do so on Holy Saturday. On this day, housewives make final preparations before Sunday service, dye Easter eggs, and tidy up the house.
When You Can’t Bake Easter Bread: Why Good Friday Isn’t Suitable for Baking Festive Bread
Good Friday is considered a day of mourning, when the suffering of Christ is commemorated, and the Shroud is carried out in churches. That is why, in folk tradition, there is a belief that this day is not suitable for preparing festive baked goods, as doing so may bring misfortune upon oneself and one’s family.
There is also a practical explanation for this prohibition. It is believed that this day served as a time for rest, so that the housewife would have enough strength for the final preparations without undue haste.
At the same time, the church does not impose a strict ban on baking Easter cakes on Friday, but believers are still advised to focus on prayer, silence, and peace on this day, rather than on “festive bustle.”
There are also popular beliefs that Easter bread should not be prepared during menstruation or pregnancy. At the same time, the church emphasizes that anyone who has the desire, time, and inspiration can bake Easter bread and dye eggs.
However, if a person finds it physically difficult or feels unwell, they shouldn’t force themselves to do it.
When to dye eggs for Easter 2026
The best days for dyeing Easter eggs coincide with the dates for baking Easter cakes. Easter eggs that will be placed on the table and eaten are most often prepared on the last day before Easter, on Holy Saturday. This is done so that the dyed eggs remain as fresh as possible until the festive breakfast.
Eggs can also be prepared on Maundy Thursday.
At the same time, pysanky—which are painted in some regions of the country and serve only a decorative purpose—are made one or two weeks before Easter.
What colors of painted eggs are considered traditional
It is believed that the red color of Easter eggs symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ.
Recently, housewives have also been favoring white, which is associated with purity, light, and the joy of the holiday.
Natural dyes: the most commonly used
The most popular natural dyes, which every homemaker has at home, include:
- onion skins, which give a reddish hue;
- hibiscus tea—a rich dark blue or blue color;
- red wine for a rich red color and a bright sheen.
How many Easter cakes should you bake for Easter: why you shouldn’t bake too much festive bread
In the past, there was a folk belief that one should bake 20 Easter cakes to eat oneself and give to relatives, friends, and even strangers.
However, priests emphasize that there is no church guideline regarding the number of Easter cakes to be prepared for Easter. You should bake as many Easter cakes as you can eat yourself and give away to friends.
Throwing away or giving consecrated bread to animals is considered a sin. Instead, leftover Easter baked goods and the shells from consecrated eggs should be burned or buried.
Author: Olya Yushko
