13/04/2026
In Season: Roots, Grass and Branches
Much of Georgian Orthodox Easter tradition seems to revolve around composing a sort of a “still life”: Jejili/ჯეჯილი, a wheat grass is grown on a plate for this occasion; Easter eggs are dyed red with Endro/ენდრო, the roots of Rubia Tinctorum, placed in and around Jejili and around a P***a cake. It is a ritual of arranging things. This arrangement, in sync with a Christian artistic tradition, is an allegorical image, where each of the elements signify a moment from the Easter narrative.
This narrative begins on Bzoba/ბზობა (Palm Sunday), named after Bza/ბზა (Boxwood), a local palm substitute. Around the holiday Boxwood is usually sold around churches, and elsewhere. On the day of Bzoba it enters many homes and finds its place, often hanging on a wall.
Before they are arranged at home, these three plants – the roots, the grass and the branches – decorate the urban space, many times creating small bits of seasonal still life, overflowing from different crates, buckets and bags. The roots are tied in small bundles and piled up, sometimes placed next to regular eggs. Walking through the markets, Jejili especially covers large ground, creating elevated grass patches. It is often placed in plastic plates, a tried and true method for growing it the fastest.
“In Season” is a collaboration between Archil Tsereteli ( ) and Ruderal, to highlight seasonal plants and their representation in Georgian culture.
