Velika noč je praznik Kristusove zmage nad smrtjo, praznik novega življenja in upanja. Od pepelnice do vstajenjske maše se prepletajo bogoslužje, ljudsko izročilo in bogati običaji. Blagoslov jedil je med Slovenci priljubljen običaj, ki v cerkev pritegne največje število ljudi v letu. Tokrat smo za vas pripravili slovarček najpomembnejših besed povezanih z veliko nočjo.

Aleluja – Vzklik aleluja izhaja iz hebrejščine in pomeni »Slavite Jahveja«. V postu se tega vzklika pri maši ne uporablja (tudi v vsakdanjem življenju naj bi se ga v tem času izogibali), znova ga duhovnik zapoje pri vigiliji.

Bandero – Velika zastava z motivi svetnikov ali prizori iz Jezusovega življenja v škrlatni barvi, ki jo možje nosijo ob Najsvetejšem pri procesiji (tudi vstajenjski).

Bela nedelja – V časih zgodnjega krščanstva so katehumene krščevali na veliko noč, nato so ves teden nosili bela oblačila. Nedelja po veliki noči je bela, ker so bili mnogi tako oblečeni pri maši. Danes je to tudi nedelja božjega usmiljenja.

Hren – Njegova korenina že po obliki spominja na žebelj, njegova ostrina na bolečino, ki so jo Jezusu zadali žeblji, grenkoba pa na žejo, ki jo je čutil na križu. Je eno izmed obveznih živil v žegnanjski košari.

Jerbas ali košara za velikonočni žegen (blagoslov) živil, ki jo na veliko soboto v cerkev nese najstarejša neporočena hči pri hiši. V nekaterih gospodinjstvih imajo posebno košaro, ki se uporablja enkrat letno, le v ta namen.

Pasijon – Evangelijski odlomek o Jezusovem trpljenju in smrti od velikega četrtka do velike sobote. Namesto pridige ga pri maši prebiramo na cvetno nedeljo in veliki četrtek.

Post – Post pomeni odpoved hrani, širše pa je to celotno obdobje priprave na veliko noč, ne le z odpovedjo, temveč tudi molitvijo in dobrimi deli.

Pirhi – Imajo bogato velikonočno simboliko: zlasti rdeči nas spominjajo na kapljice Jezusove krvi. Lahko so podoba groba, saj se v njih skriva življenje, ki lahko zdrobi lupino (skale) in pride na dan.

Potica – Njeno ime je bilo menda sprva »povitica«, o njej pa je pisal že Valvasor. Za veliko noč potica simbolizira Kristusovo trnjevo krono, saj po obliki spominja nanjo.

Prata – Tradicionalno gorenjska velikonočna jed. Je zelo bogata in kalorična in se prileže po postnem odrekanju, je pa tudi praktična, saj z njo porabimo star kruh in jajca, ki jih morebiti nismo skuhali za pirhe.

Raglja – Ko na večer velikega četrtka utihnejo cerkveni zvonovi v znak žalovanja, se ob povzdigovanju namesto njih uporabljajo raglje. 

Sveto tridnevje – Tako na kratko imenujemo čas od velikega petka do velike noči.

Veliki teden – To je čas od velikega četrtka do velikega ponedeljka – torej tri dni pred velikonočno nedeljo in dan po njej. 

Vigilija – Slovesna maša na večer velike sobote (ponekod lahko tudi vso noč s sobote na nedeljo), med katero po dvodnevni tišini znova zapojejo zvonovi in orgle in se oglasi aleluja. 

Žegen ali blagoslov jedi na veliko soboto. Prinesemo jih v košari in pokrijemo z lepim prtičem. Hrano, ki je bila blagoslovljena, prav tako imenujemo žegen in imamo do nje še posebej spoštljiv odnos.

Easter is the celebration of Christ’s victory over death, a celebration of new life and hope. The period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday Mass is marked by solemn liturgy, folk traditions and rich customs. One of the most popular customs among Slovenians is the blessing of Easter dishes, which attracts the largest number of people to church throughout the year. Here is a short glossary of the most important words related to Easter.

Hallelujah – The exclamation hallelujah comes from Hebrew and means “Praise Yahweh.” During Lent, this exclamation is not used at Mass (and should be avoided in everyday life during this time), but is sung again by the priest at the vigil.

Bandero – A large flag with motifs of saints or scenes from the life of Jesus in purple, which men carry next to the Blessed Sacrament during processions (including Easter processions).

White Sunday – In early Christian times, catechumens were baptized on Easter Sunday, and then they wore white clothes all week. The Sunday after Easter is white because many people wore white clothes to Mass. Today, it is also Divine Mercy Sunday.

Horseradish – Its root is reminiscent of a nail in shape, its sharpness of the pain inflicted by the nails on Jesus, and its bitterness of the thirst he felt on the cross. It is one of the mandatory foods in the blessing basket.

Wicker baskets for the Easter blessing (blessing) of food, carried to church on Holy Saturday by the eldest unmarried daughter of the house. Some households have a special basket that is used once a year for this purpose only.

Passion – The Gospel passage about Jesus’ suffering and death from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday. It is read at Mass instead of a sermon on Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday.

Fasting – Fasting means abstaining from food, but more broadly, it is the entire period of preparation for Easter, not only through abstinence, but also prayer and good works.

Easter Eggs – They have rich Easter symbolism: the red ones in particular remind us of the drops of Jesus’ blood. They can be an image of the grave, as life is hidden within them, which can break through the shell (rock) and come to light.

Potica – Its name was supposedly originally “povitica”, and Valvasor wrote about it. For Easter, potica symbolizes Christ’s crown of thorns, as its shape resembles it.

Prata – A traditional Gorenjska Easter dish. It is very rich and high in calories and is a great way to relax after Lent, but it is also practical, as it uses up old bread and eggs that we may not have cooked for Easter.

Rattle – When church bells fall silent on the evening of Holy Thursday as a sign of mourning, rattles are used instead during the procession.

Triduum – This is the short name for the time from Good Friday to Easter.

Holy Week – This is the period from Holy Thursday to Holy Monday – that is, the three days before Easter Sunday and the day after it.

Vigil – A solemn mass on the evening of Holy Saturday (in some places it can also be held all night from Saturday to Sunday), during which, after a two-day silence, the bells and organs ring again and the alleluia is heard.

The Blessing of food on Holy Saturday. We bring it in a basket and cover it with a beautiful tablecloth. The food that has been blessed is also called the blessing and we have a particularly respectful attitude towards it.

Translated with AI assistance.