Putting Together a Traditional Pascha Basket
As Great Lent comes to an end, many Orthodox families will begin gathering foods for a special tradition: filling their Pascha basket! Filled with items rich in meaning and often passed down through generations, these baskets are brought to Church to be blessed and enjoyed on Pascha (Easter)!
In this post, I’ll share how to put together a traditional Russian-style Pascha basket and I will include the symbolism of each item, including suggestions for store bought options! But don’t worry—there’s no “right” way to do it. Every family’s basket is different. The most important aspect of any Pascha basket is to include foods you know you’re family will love and include items you’ve been missing during the fast, so although I am sharing the “traditional” version, every family’s basket will take on it’s own life! If this is your first time putting one together, welcome! I’m here to make it simple and meaningful. This is a “little t” tradition, as we often refer to it, meaning it is something that is done as a local tradition, and not universally practiced. So let’s learn more about a traditional Pascha basket!
Print by Mirian Adams of The Green Paintbrush *Special thanks to Marian Adams of Draw Near Designs for creating this beautiful Pascha Basket print, which she made for the purposes of this blog post. You can find this print as a Pascha Basket Towel, Tea Towel, 8” x 10” print or set of 6 cards in their Lent Shop.
Why do we create Pascha Baskets?
Perhaps this is a new tradition for you, or your parish doesn’t do Pascha baskets, so it’s a valid question! After any great fast, we FEAST! Creating a Pascha basket is equivalent to creating a meal to feast on. Think picnic basket! We are taking our feast with us to Church to be blessed and then to partake after the midnight Paschal Divine Liturgy. Now, not every parish has the custom of feasting together right after the service, or even blessing the foods. If not, you can certainly still put together a basket for your own household to feast and say the prayers of the blessing of the Paschal foods!
Now something you should know about Pascha baskets is these items don’t necessarily need to be consumed on Pascha! The idea behind it is the baskets are brought to Church, blessed, and shared with others, and whatever is not consumed right away will be consumed during Bright week (the week proceeding Pascha). So consider that when packing your baskets. The week after Pascha, also known as bright week, is fast-free. What items do we want blessed for the Paschal season? For example, salt might seem odd to include, but I love having my salt blessed each year for Pascha and use it in my kitchen all year!
Scroll to learn how to make your own traditional Pascha basket
Watch this short reel on Instagram on putting together a Pascha basket
History of Pascha Baskets
The tradition of the Pascha basket is rich and deeply rooted in the history of Orthodox Christianity, especially among Slavic peoples like the Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, and others. It began as a way for early Christians to celebrate the end of Great Lent—a 40-day period of strict fasting—by bringing the foods they had abstained from to church to be blessed before consuming them. Over time, this simple act grew into a meaningful tradition, with each item in the basket symbolizing a part of the Resurrection story or the joy of new life in Christ. Among Russian Orthodox Christians, the tradition became deeply ingrained by the Middle Ages and was passed down through generations as both a spiritual and cultural tradition. Despite being suppressed during the Soviet era, the Pascha basket remained a quiet symbol of faith in many households and saw a strong revival after the fall of communism. Today, it continues to be a joyful and reverent part of Pascha celebrations, connecting families to their faith through beautifully prepared and symbolic foods.
Putting Together a Traditional Pascha Basket
Traditional Pascha Basket (explained below) is as follows:
Pascha Cheese
Pascha Bread
Eggs
Butter
Horseradish
Meat
Salt
Wine
Basket with decorative cloth, candle, flowers and icon (optional)
Scroll to read about each of these items and their symbolism
Pascha (Пасха) – Sweet Cheese Dessert
Made from farmer’s cheese (or sometimes ricotta or cottage cheese), butter, eggs, sugar, cream, and sometimes raisins/nuts. Shaped in a pyramid mold, often decorated with “XB” which means “Christ is Risen”
Symbolism: Pascha cheese is sweet and mild, reminding us of the moderation we should have towards everything.
Store Bought Option: If you’re looking for a store bought option, pick cheeses you know your family will love! Feta, Bulgarian Cheese, Mozzarella, or any other artisan cheeses you love!
Paska Cheese Recipes
I’ve used several recipes for our Pascha cheese dessert is made using ricotta cheese, eggs, unsalted butter, and sugar made in a special mold. The process takes several days to allow the liquid to be drained a bit. Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish cuisine all feature paska in their Pascha basket and is paired with kulich or paska bread. You will need a few pieces of equipment (affiliate links included):
Pascha Cheese Mold or Small Flower Pot with a hole on the bottom - can find at Home Depot or Lowes
Hand mixer or Stand Mixer
Pascha Cheese
This is a sweet cheese dessert made for Pascha! It is made from cheese, butter, eggs, sugar, and cream which is mixed and shaped in a pyramid-like mold, and drained for several days in the fridge and often decorated with “XB” which means “Christ is Risen”.
Symbolism: Pascha cheese is sweet and mild, reminding us of the moderation we should have towards everything.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ricotta cheese
- 3/4 C heavy cream, whipped
- 1/3 C softened butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla + 1 vanilla bean (or use 4 tsp vanilla bean paste)
- 3/4 C sugar
- Camomile flowers, sprinkles, or pomegranate seeds to decorate (optional)
- Cheese cloth
- Pascha cheese mold or small flower pot
Instructions
- Whip cream and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar thoroughly.
- Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the yummy seeds. Add the vanilla beans and the vanilla and mix well.
- Add the cheese and beat until mixture is smooth, without any curds showing. If adding additional flavors, add here. See note below.
- Fold in the whipped cream.
- Line your mold with cheesecloth and drain mixture for at least 24 hours, in the fridge, preferably longer 2-3 days. Carefully place the flower pot or mold over a bowl so the liquid can drain.
- After drained, flip over and carefully remove the cheese cloth. Decorate as you wish!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
453Fat
33 gSat. Fat
21 gCarbs
31 gFiber
1 gNet carbs
30 gSugar
28 gProtein
11 gSodium
186 mgCholesterol
104 mgAdding additional flavors:
- Lemon Blueberry - Zest of 1 lemon + 1.5 to 3 oz dried blueberries.
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry- 3 heaped tbsp cocoa powder and decorated with fresh strawberries.
- Strawberry - Grind up 3 tbsp of freeze dried strawberries to blend in and add white chocolate chips
Special thanks to my friend Kimberly Allen who shared her recipe and flavor suggestions with me!
Quick and Easy Pascha Cheese by Matushka Emily
Don’t have a mold or 2 days to prepare? I’ve got you….
Two Easy and Quick Cheese Pascha Recipes:
Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha & Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha by Charming the Birds from the Trees Blog. Both of these recipes are cream cheese based, and are simply prepared by mixing the ingredients, setting them in a bowl, and decorating with a simple cross on top. Great for a last minute addition to your basket, and won’t take days of preparation. You can find the recipes HERE:
Cream Cheese Cheese Pascha
Ingredients
1lb softened cream cheese
2/3 cup sour cream
1 1/2 sticks butter
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
golden raisins and/or silvered almonds for decorating
Method
Cream butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue to mix. Add sour cream. Spoon into a nice serving bowl, smooth, and decorate the top with golden raisins and/or silvered almonds. Chill, covered, for several hours before serving. Enjoy spread on kulich or Greek Pascha bread (or by the spoonful!).
Grandmama's Fruity Cheese Pascha
Ingredients
12oz cream cheese
1/4 lb sweet whipped butter
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons Sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup crushed, drained pineapple
1/4 cup yellow raisins
1/4 cup chopped, drained maraschino cherries
Method
Combine ingredients. Spoon into a nice serving bowl and smooth the top. Decorate with yellow raisins. Cover and chill before serving atop kulich or Greek Pascha bread. Enjoy!
Paska (Кулич) - Easter Bread
Paska Bread - is a rich sweet bread made with milk, butter, eggs, and made with yeast. There are a number of traditional breads made across various cultures, so I will share the most common ones!
Symbolism - The bread reminds us that Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35). The yeast is a symbol of the New Covenant; the Jews made unleavened bread, and since we are children under the New Covenant, we make leavened bread. It also symbolizes the joy and richness of the Resurrection!
Store Bought Option: Each culture has its own eggy sweet bread. You can find some more traditional versions below. If you have a European market near you, they typically sell kulich in the frozen section! But if you’re needing a simple store bought option, look for some Brioche bread, panettone, Hawaiian rolls or even some crescent rolls as a great store bought option to add to your Pascha Basket!
Traditional Sweet Breads:
Paska
Paska is the Ukrainian or Georgian traditional bread, decorated with a braided cross on top and baked in a round cake pan. You can find step by step instructions on how to make this bread HERE thanks to Korena in the Kitchen Blog.
Kulich
Kulich is a tall, sweet bread similar to panettone, often iced and decorated with sprinkles or powder sugar. traditional Russian bread, often made with dried fruit and decorated with icing and sprinkles. The process of this bread is quite lengthly (totaling 7+ hours) but much of that is passively for the various rises. You can follow a step by step recipe HERE thanks to Natasha’s Kitchen Blog. You can shop various paper molds for kulich in my Amazon storefront. Perfect Pascha gifts to give to friends!
Tsoureki
Tsoureki - is the traditional Greek braided bread. The braided form of this bread is a display of the Trinity - 3 in 1. This semi-sweet bread is made using eggs, butter and cream. You can follow a step by step recipe HERE thank to Hey Foodie Girl, an Orthodox Food Blogger, which will make a bunch of loaves to share!
Eggs (Яйца) - Especially Dyed Red
Eggs have always been a strong symbol of new life and resurrection. After the Paschal Liturgy, Orthodox Christians will receive a red dyed egg, which we ceremoniously crack while saying “Christ is risen!” This reminds us of the tomb from which Christ arose. The miracle of new life which comes from an egg reminds us that Christ miraculously came from the tomb, trampling down death by death, shattering the bons of sin, and bestowing life!
Symbolism - I mentioned some of them above but the traditional red eggs remind us of Jesus’ blood shed for us, and the miracle of the red egg when St Mary Magdalane proclaimed the resurrection to the non-believing empororer, and the egg in her hand miraculously turned red as she proclaimed "Christ is Risen".
Dye Red Eggs - In the Greek tradition, Holy Thursday is the day designated to dye red eggs. The red color is symbolic of Christ’s blood, and since Holy Thursday evening’s service (which is done in anticipation of Friday) is the day when Jesus is nailed to the cross, the many choose to dye their eggs on this day. Many churches provide red eggs for the faithful, which are then distributed after the Paschal Liturgy, but if you’d like to try your hand at making them yourself, there are a few ways to do this.
Check out this blogpost on how to dye them naturally:
One of my favorite parts of Holy Week preparation is dyeing red eggs which is an important tradition in the Orthodox Church. Some of the memories I carry with me each year: the warmth of the kitchen, my children’s delightful squeals as they watch the eggs turn a bright, vibrant red, and the joy we feel a we shine the eggs. Each time we make them, I am in awe of the little miracle of transforming white eggs to a bright red using onion skins. But did you know these red eggs hold meaning—they symbolize the blood of Christ, His resurrection, and the joy of new life? In this blogpost, Dyeing Red Eggs Naturally, I want to share not only how we dye our eggs using natural ingredients, but explain why this tradition means so much to me and to so many Orthodox families around the world.
Red Dye - You can also buy high-quality dye to easily prepare vibrant traditional red eggs HERE from Legacy Icons.
Pysanky
Pysanky is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist method. The word pysanky comes from the verb pysaty, "to write" or "to inscribe", as the designs are not painted on, but written (inscribed) with beeswax. You can watch a video on YouTube on how to make these special painted eggs HERE.
Pysanky Egg Decorating Kit by Draw Near Designs
Wooden "Pysanky" Eggs for Little Ones by Draw Near Designs
A Kid's Guide to Decorating Ukranian Easter Eggs book - This book is a thorough, fully illustrated step-by-step guide for beginners of all ages! It’s designed to teach the basic skills needed for decorating pysanky. 48 full color pages, spiral bound. A perfect accompaniment to the Pysanky Egg Kit!
Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco - A story of an old Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted Pysanky eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose who breaks all her eggs, but miraculously receives beautifully adorned eggs in return for nurturing the injured goose. This sweet story is available at most local libraries. You can also find it on Amazon.
Store Bought Option: If you are able to find an easter egg dyeing kit, you can use a crayon to decorate the eggs and dip them in various colors! Or you can find a few already beautifully decorated pysanky eggs in my Amazon storefront!
Butter
Butter (Масло)
Symbolism - Often shaped like a cross or a lamb, the butter symbolizes the end of fasting and the richness of God’s blessing. The "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world" is a reference to Jesus Christ as the sacrificial lamb, found in the Gospel of John 1:29.
When it comes to Pascha baskets, something you should know is these items don’t necesarily need to be consumed on Pascha! The idea is the baskets are brought to Church, blessed, and whatever is not consumed right away will be consumed during Bright week (the week proceeding Pascha). So throw in a stick (or two) of butter to be blessed and enjoy for your bright week meals!
Store Bought Option: Bring a stick of butter of store bought butter! Kerigold is my favorite for a Pascha splurge. Doesn’t have to be in a fancy shape. But if you’d like to try your hand at shaping it into a lamb or use a fun mold, simple bring butter to room temperature, and fit into mold, chill and remove. Check out these links below (affiliate links):
Lamb Butter Mold - I purchased this one from Etsy.
Or you can use a candy mold and use it for butter, available on Amazon
Check out other items for your Pascha basket in my Amazon storefront!
Meat : Sausage, Bacon, Ham
Meat (Мясо): Sausage, bacon, or ham
As Orthodox Christian, generally we abstain from meat, dairy, and fish during Great Lent. So having some sort of meat is very traditional! Typical meat that are included in a traditional Pascha Basket would be ham or sausage, or kielbasa or cold cuts. Think charcuterie! As we learn from the prayer of blessing, the meat products also symbolize the fattened calf prepared for the Prodigal Son on his return to his Heavenly Father.
Symbolism: The end of the fasting season and the joy of the feast! Sausage - spicy, garlicky and scrumptious, they remind us of God’s favor and generosity. Bacon - symbolizes the overabundance of God’s mercy. Ham - is a symbol of the joy and abundance of Pascha!
Store bought Option: These items can be purchased already prepared at most grocery stores!
Cheese (Сыр)
Again, as Orthodox Christians we have been fasting from all dairy so it is traditional to include some cheeses, particularly ones your family likes! This can pair well with the cold cut meats and pascha bread!
Symbolism: Represents moderation and joy after fasting!
Store bought Option: These items can be purchased at every grocery stores!
Salt
Salt (Соль)
This particular item might stand out as odd in a basket but let me explain. Jesus teaches us “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Salt is also necessary for flavor, and reminds the Christian of his duty to others. As salt preserves food, we are to be as salt in the world. Typically included in a small container, bring this in your Pascha basket so that it is blessed and you can use it all throughout the Paschal season in your cooking!
Symbolism - Salt reminds us that we are the salt of the earth referenced in Matthew 5:13-16.
Store Bought Option: Any salt will do! Since traditionally Pascha baskets are blessed, you can take it home and use it for all your cookings or flavoring during the Paschal season! My favorite salt is Redmond’s Real salt found on Amazon HERE.
Bitter Herb
Bitter Herb (Хрен) - Horseradish
In some traditions, horseradish is mixed with grated red beets, which is symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds, but sweetened with sugar because of the Resurrection.
Symbolism - This bitter-sweet red mixture reminds us of the sufferings of Christ. Having a bitter herb also reminds us of the vinegar that was offered to Christ while he was on the cross.
Store Bought Version - You can easily buy prepared horseradish to include in your basket. But also, if you’re not a fan of horseradish, include any bitter herb of your choosing like prepared mustard.
Ćwikła Recipe
In the Polish tradition, there is a grated horseradish dish with Beets called Ćwikła (CHEEK-wah). This no-cook recipe combines grated horseradish with beets. It is the perfect accompaniment for the sausage and ham. The ratio of horseradish to beets is generally 1 to 3, giving this dish a more mild taste compared to other horseradish condiments. This recipe provides canned and jarred alternatives, but it will taste best with fresh ingredients. You can find the recipe HERE thanks to The Spruce Eats.
Wine
In addition to abstaining from meat, dairy, fish and oil, as Orthodox Christians we also abstain most days from wine during Great Lent. It is fitting to include wine to be blessed in your Pascha basket!
Symbolism Reminds us that God takes ordinary food and uses it as an aid in making us holy. From Matthew 26:27-29 “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Store Bought Option - Can be purchased at any local store or winery!
Basket Presentation and Decoration
There are many variations on how people present or decorate their Pascha basket. Here are a few suggestions:
Use of a woven basket - Typically there is one large wicker basket with a handle per family. Some families may choose to have a separate basket for the children with gifts, candy, etc. If you do not have a large basket 🧺 try finding one at your local thrift stores, second hand websites (like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc), HomeGoods, or other home decor stores. If you have a Whole Foods nearby, they sell well made fair trade Bolga Market baskets that would work great for a Pascha Basket! Or check out my Amazon list on my storefront!
Cover with a decorative cloth -The cover reminds us of Christ’s burial shroud. A traditional basket cover is made with a white cloth embroidered with the words, “Christ is Risen,” but there are many beautiful designs available through Orthodox makers, which you can see below:
Paschal Floral Towel (above) Designed by Abigail Art and sold through Draw Near Designs. They actually have a BUNCH of designs, so be sure to check out there LENT + PASCHA shop!
Pascha Embroidery Kit by Avlea Folk Embroidery
Linen Pascha Covers from Etsy (you can find a ton of beautiful designs on Etsy)
Flowers, candles, or icons may be added for beauty and reverence - traditionally a Pascha basket includes a decorated candle. During the eating of the Paschal food, this candle is placed in the middle of the table. Jesus is the true light who brightens the whole world through the radiance of His Holy Resurrection. With your flowers and icon, you can adorn your Pascha table. Check out my Amazon list on my storefront!
Ribbons - I like to add some ribbon and greenery to my basket to make it exceptionally beautiful! See this photo for inspiration! Check out the one I purchased on Amazon.
Source: HERE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Can I include other items in my basket?
Absolutely! Think of it this way… after 40+ days of fasting, what foods do you want to eat on Pascha to break the fast? It is common that family members will include items that they have been abstaining from during the fast, and items they are most looking forward to breaking the fast with after Pascha! Although I’ve laid out the traditional foods, you can certainly make this your own! In our family basket, we’ve done a mixture of both the traditional items + other items we have been missing like one year we had Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, or a specialty beer, Krispy Kreme Donuts, and we even included a massive cheeseburger one time from our favorite local burger place! The possibilities are endless!
Each of us have the unique opportunity to create our own traditions, whether they are practiced in our communities or in our homes. The Pascha basket itself is one of those traditions we started before our kids were born and now it is a cherished tradition. As we draw closer to Pascha, I begin to quiz everyone in the family about what they are hoping we have for our Paschal meal. So consider asking each member of your family what items they would like to include in your family basket. One of the most profound things about our tradition is the Church takes ordinary food, blesses it, and it is used as an aid in making us holy. So enjoy curating the perfect Pascha basket for you and your household!
When and Where to Bring the Basket?
The basket is traditionally prepared during Holy Week or most specifically Holy Saturday and brought to Church just before the Paschal service, usually left in a designated place to be blessed immediately after the midnight liturgy or on Pascha! Check with your local parish on this practice!
Final Thoughts
Each family will put together Pascha basket that is unique and special. The purpose of this guide is to share the contents of a traditional Pascha basket. Don’t take it as a rule that has to be followed. This is a “little t” tradition, as we often refer to it, meaning it is something that is done as a local tradition. Even with a traditional basket, each basket will take on its own life. Each region also has their own customs as well. How will you be creating your own family traditions to pass on?
Whatever you do, I pray it is a blessing for you and your household! I hope you have a joyous resurrection! Christ is Risen!
-Khouria Destinie
