The proper way to greet someone in Macedonian on Easter is by saying Христос Воскресе! (Hristos Voskrese!), which translates to “Christ is Risen!”  The other person then responds back with Навистина Воскресе! (Navistina Voskrese!) or Вистина Воскресе! (Vistina Voskrese!), which translate to “Indeed, He is Risen!”

What is the proper Easter greeting in Macedonian?

Eggs are traditionally dyed a bright red color the early hours of Holy Thursday with the first egg dyed red before sunrise.  The belief is that if the egg doesn’t see the sun, it will last all year and not spoil.  That first red egg is then placed near an icon in the home and kept all year for good health.

It is believed that after Jesus’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, Mary Magdalene went to Rome and met with the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar.  She had a plain egg in her hand and greeted him with the words “Christ is Risen.”  She then continued to tell him about Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension.  The Emperor, doubting Mary Magdalene, responded that Jesus rising from the dead was as likely as the egg she was holding turning red.  Before the Emperor could finish speaking, the egg in Mary Magdalene’s hand turned a bright red color.