Radonitsa - Belarus

Radonista in Belarus always falls on the second Tuesday after Orthodox Easter. The day celebrates ancestor veneration.

Celebration\ Observance

People take this day to visit the graves of their deceased relatives and eat traditional foods like kutia, kulichi, and colored Easter eggs. Some will leave Easter eggs, sweets and candles on the graves of their deceased relatives. This day is a national holiday with most business and government offices closed.

History

In ancient times the Slavic people would visit the graves of their dead relatives in the spring time but after they became Christianized the tradition was changed to the Christian Orthodox festival of Radonista.