In the Eastern Christian liturgical tradition, Easter Monday, also known as Bright Monday or White Monday, holds special significance as it is part of the ongoing celebration of Pascha (Easter). This day, along with the entire week following Pascha, is referred to as Bright Week or The Week of Brightness. The period is filled with joy, light, and festivity, and each day serves as an extension of the Resurrection of Christ.
In the Ukrainian tradition, this week is particularly important and is celebrated with certain cultural and religious practices, one of which is Polyvaljniy Ponedilok.
Bright Monday is the second day of the Paschal celebration, following Easter Sunday, and is part of Bright Week. It serves as a continuation of the glorious celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.
The term “Bright” (or “White”) refers to the radiant joy and light of Christ’s Resurrection. It is a time when the Church is filled with light, symbolizing the victory over darkness and death. The entire week is liturgically a joyous celebration, where the faithful rejoice in the new life offered through Christ’s Resurrection.
The hymns and prayers of Bright Monday emphasize the joy of the Resurrection. The faithful are reminded that the Paschal joy is not limited to Easter Sunday but continues to permeate all of Bright Week. The faithful are still in the Paschal mood, which is one of celebration, rejoicing, and thanksgiving.
Bright Monday is particularly significant for those who were baptized during the Paschal Vigil or in the days leading up to Pascha.
In the early Church, it was common for newly baptized Christians to receive their first communion on Pascha or Easter Monday. These new Christians are now welcomed into the fullness of the Church’s sacramental life.
The rituals and hymns of Bright Monday serve to affirm the new birth of the baptized faithful—the newly baptized are seen as having participated in the death and Resurrection of Christ through their baptism.
The baptisms during the Paschal Vigil are seen as spiritual rebirths, and Bright Monday continues the celebration of this new beginning. The newly baptized are introduced into the light of Christ, symbolizing that, through baptism, they have transitioned from darkness (sin) to the light of the Resurrection.
Bright Week is so named because every day of the week is celebrated as a day of Paschal joy. It is a time when the faithful continue their celebration of Christ’s Resurrection and live in the joy and light of this great event.
During this week, there are no fasts or penances; instead, there is an atmosphere of feasting and celebration, reflecting the new life that has been given to humanity through Christ’s triumph over death.
During Bright Week, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated every day with Paschal hymns and prayers. The “Christ is Risen” hymn continues to be sung in every liturgical setting.
The gloria (doxology) of the Liturgy begins with:
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life.“
The Paschal Troparion is chanted throughout the week, reminding everyone of the new life brought by Christ’s Resurrection.
In Ukrainian culture, Bright Monday, or Polyvaljniy Ponedilok (also called “Lemkivsky Ponedilok” in some regions), has its own rich traditions and customs. It is a day of family gatherings, feasting, and joyful celebrations. It is marked by rituals that symbolize spiritual renewal and community bonding.
Polyvaljniy Ponedilok in Ukraine is a day when families and communities come together to continue the celebration of Pascha. The feasts on this day are often opulent, with families enjoying Easter foods like paska(Easter bread), hams, eggs, and other festive dishes.
It is a time when families visit one another, share meals, and exchange greetings of Pascha, emphasizing community solidarity and the joy of the Resurrection.
In some Ukrainian traditions, families may visit the graves of loved ones on Easter Monday. This practice, while not universal, is a way of showing respect for the departed and praying for their souls. It also reflects the Resurrection theme, as Christians believe in life after death and that Christ’s Resurrection promises the resurrection of the dead.
The practice is often accompanied by the blessing of graves and placing Paschal foods (like eggs) on the graves as a gesture of honor and remembrance.
Bright Monday is a time of joyful outdoor activities, particularly in Ukrainian rural areas. Families might go for walks, have picnics, or even hold community gatherings in local churchyards or open fields, as part of the Paschal celebrations.
The day is marked by dances, songs, and festivals, especially in rural areas where the resurrection of nature in spring is also celebrated alongside the resurrection of Christ.
As mentioned earlier, the connection between Bright Monday and the newly baptized is deeply rooted in the liturgical traditions. Those baptized during the Paschal Vigil are welcomed into the community and are celebrated throughout the Bright Week.
The bright themes of renewal and new birth are reflected in the rituals of this week. The baptized are considered new creatures in Christ, having been washed in the waters of baptism and now living in the light of the Resurrection.
Bright Week extends the joy of Pascha, emphasizing the unbroken connection between Christ’s Resurrection and the new life offered to all who are baptized. Each day of Bright Week echoes the celebration of the Resurrection, and this joy permeates every aspect of the community’s life, from liturgical prayers to social customs.
In some Ukrainian families, it is customary to greet one another throughout the week with the words:
“Christ is risen!“
And the response:
“He is risen indeed!“
In both the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Bright Monday is a continuation of the Paschal joy. It is deeply connected with the newly baptized and marks the beginning of Bright Week, a time when all the faithful live in the light of the Resurrection. The Polyvaljniy Ponedilok (Ukrainian Easter Monday) is a day of family, community, and joyful celebration, often filled with gatherings, feasts, and rituals that connect the faithful with the spiritual renewal of Easter.
The whole of Bright Week is a time to celebrate life, renewal, and community, reminding the faithful that Christ’s Resurrection is not just a single event but a living reality that transforms the lives of the baptized and all Christians who share in the joy of the Resurrection.
The tradition of boys and girls spraying each other with water or throwing one another into bodies of water on Полівальний Понеділок (Polyvaljniy Ponedilok) is a lively and joyful custom that has both cultural and symbolic significance. This custom is often observed during Bright Monday, especially in rural areas of Ukraine, and is connected to both ancient and Christian traditions.
Symbol of Cleansing and Renewal:
The practice of spraying water or throwing people into water symbolizes spiritual renewal and cleansing. It is directly tied to the themes of baptism and resurrection observed during Pascha (Easter). Water, in this context, is a symbol of both physical and spiritual purification, aligning with the idea of new life and rebirth, which are central themes of Bright Week and the Paschal celebrations. In early Christian tradition, baptism is seen as a washing away of sins, and this playful tradition on Полівальний Понеділок reflects that belief.
Connection to Ancient Pagan Traditions:
The tradition has roots in pre-Christian, pagan rituals that celebrated the arrival of spring, a season of renewal and fertility. In ancient Slavic beliefs, water was often associated with life-giving forces and fertility. Sprinkling water was thought to encourage the growth of crops and to bring blessings for a fruitful year. This pagan influence was absorbed into the Christianized customs of Easter Monday, where the practice took on new spiritual meanings, merging both the pagan and Christian symbols of renewal.
The Role of Water in the Resurrection Theme:
In the context of Easter, the act of splashing or throwing water on others can be seen as a symbolic reminder of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of eternal life. Just as water brings life to the earth, the Resurrection of Christ brings new life to the faithful, offering a renewal of the soul.
Boys and Girls Spraying Each Other: Traditionally, young men and boys would splash water on girls or women as part of the celebration. This playful exchange symbolizes a lighthearted and joyful spirit of Easter, and it is often done with laughter and good-natured teasing. In some areas, the water used could be from local wells or rivers, adding to the connection with nature.
Throwing People into Bodies of Water: In some regions of Ukraine, the custom is more intense, where individuals might throw each other into rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water. This act is both a continuation of the cleansing theme and a way to celebrate the resurrection of nature in spring. It is a playful tradition, and in some places, the boys might insist on throwing the girls into the water, but it is typically done in a spirit of fun and joy.
While Полівальний Понеділок is a widespread tradition in Ukraine, certain regions are particularly known for maintaining the custom of water spraying or throwing people into water:
Western Ukraine: This tradition is most commonly observed in the Carpathian region, where rural customs are deeply ingrained. The Lemkiv region, known for its distinct cultural practices, is particularly associated with Полівальний Понеділок. The Lemki, a group of Ukrainians from the Carpathian Mountains, maintain a unique version of this custom.
Central Ukraine: Some areas of central Ukraine, including parts of Kyiv and its surrounding regions, also continue to celebrate Полівальний Понеділок with the practice of water throwing or sprinkling. While the tradition is not as widespread in urban centers, it is still observed in smaller towns and villages.
Eastern Ukraine and the Donbas Region: Though the practice of throwing people into water is not as common in the east, some rural areas, especially those with deep-rooted traditions, continue to celebrate with water-related customs on Bright Monday.
Southern Ukraine: In areas close to the Black Sea, where the culture is influenced by various historical traditions, the custom is sometimes observed with a particular emphasis on water, both as a symbol of renewal and as a way to celebrate the fertility of the land.
The custom of spraying water or throwing people into bodies of water on Полівальний Понеділок is a joyful and deeply symbolic tradition that blends both Christian and pre-Christian cultural elements. It is rooted in themes of renewal, purification, and the celebration of the Resurrection. Although it is most commonly observed in rural parts of Western and Central Ukraine, this tradition continues to be cherished in many regions, especially among those who uphold the vibrant cultural customs of Bright Week and Easter.
