‘Paskha’ is not only the name for Easter in Russian, but also a dessert!

The main edible symbols of Easter in Russia are 'kulich' bread and painted eggs. However, there is also another dish that is frequently cooked and often appears on supermarket shelves ahead of Easter. 

The Resurrection of the Christ, or Easter, is considered to be the main holiday of the Russian Orthodox Church (and celebrated even more than Christmas). And Easter is called 'Пасха' ('Paskha') in Russian. A dessert made from sweetened cottage cheese with raisins and nuts (optionally) also bears this name. 

The main thing that differs this dish from regular cottage cheese is its form. It's made in the shape of a truncated pyramid, which symbolizes the Holy Sepulcher. Crosses and the letters 'ХВ' (abbreviation for ‘Христос Воскресе’, which translates as 'Christ has risen') are written into its sides.