Kulich

Kulich is a cherished traditional Easter bread in Slavic Orthodox Christian cultures, with its origins dating back to Kievan Rus. It is part of the Paska bread tradition that spread through regions associated with the Byzantine Empire. This bread holds special cultural significance in countries with Orthodox Christian populations, including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Kulich symbolizes both Easter and the arrival of spring.

In many Eastern European countries, Easter is often considered more important than Christmas. Following the Easter service, a beautifully decorated kulich is blessed by a priest and then enjoyed before breakfast each day. Any leftovers that haven't been blessed are typically eaten with paskha, a sweet cheese dessert.

Traditionally, kulich is baked in tall, cylindrical tins and adorned with white icing and colorful decorations. It is often served alongside cheese paska, which is marked with the letters ХВ, standing for the Easter greeting "Christ is risen" in Cyrillic. Kulich is only eaten between Easter and Pentecost and shares a similar recipe with Italian panettone.