Radonitsa, also known as Day of Rejoicing, is an important Eastern Orthodox commemoration of the departed, celebrated in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and other Slavic countries. On this day, families visit cemeteries to honor deceased relatives, bringing food, flowers and Easter eggs to their graves as symbols of life and resurrection. In Belarus, Radonitsa is both a religious and public holiday, blending ancient traditions with Christian faith.

When is Radonitsa?

Radonitsa in Belarus falls on the second Tuesday after Orthodox Easter.

The following is the list of Radonitsa from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Radonitsa?

Radonitsa is an ancient Eastern Slavic Orthodox Christian tradition that blends pre-Christian ancestral rites with Christian teachings on resurrection and eternal life. It is serving as a time to remember the dead not with sorrow, but with joy and hope in Christ's victory over death.

The holiday's roots reach back to pagan times, when Slavic peoples held spring festivals to honor their ancestors. Families would visit graves, share food, and celebrate the renewal of nature, a reflection of the belief that the boundary between the living and the dead was thinnest in spring. When Christianity spread through the Slavic lands in the 10th century, the Orthodox Church incorporated these ancestral customs into Christian practice, transforming them into a commemoration of the departed in the light of the Resurrection.

By the 14th century, Radonitsa had become an officially recognized church observance in many parts of Eastern Europe, including Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. The name itself derives from the Slavic word radost, meaning "joy", symbolizing the faithful's rejoicing that the dead share in the promise of eternal life through Christ.

Traditionally, families attend a memorial service at church and then visit cemeteries, where they clean graves, decorate them with flowers, light candles, and share festive foods—especially dyed Easter eggs, representing rebirth and resurrection. Food is sometimes left symbolically for the departed, and family members greet each other with Easter greetings, such as "Christ is Risen!"

In modern Belarus, Radonitsa is both a religious and public holiday, officially recognized since 1992. It remains a heartfelt day of remembrance, family unity, and faith, honoring loved ones through both prayer and celebration, as life and resurrection triumph over grief.