In Greece, Orthodox Easter is celebrated with an entire week of festivities – aptly titled The Holy Week – with Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday being celebrated as public holidays. It is a day of mourning and not one of work. It is the day for the Service of Lamentation, which mourns the death of Christ. It is customary for locals to drop clay pots from windows and balconies. With its unique blend of Christian traditions and local customs, the holiday is an ideal time to visit the Mediterranean country. From ancient times, the red eggs have been a symbol of the renewal of life, carrying the message of the victory over death. It’s quite a sight to watch them crash noisily on the streets and pavements below! They are often given to children as gifts from their parents or Godparents. The Greek Orthodox Church doesn’t always celebrate Easter at the same time as the Catholic or the Church of England. Holy Week . Red Egg Cracking. Don’t miss the Holy Week’s highlights: The Easter holiday in Greece is a special occasion celebrated throughout the country. Take part in the Mass of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday at the Monastery as well as in the afternoon service celebrated at 3 p.m. called the ‘Service of Love’. - On Holy Saturday ‘Mikri Anastasi’ (1st Resurrection Service) is celebrated as the bells chime, and the bands parade in the town streets. Many devout people do not cook on Holy Friday. It's a game enjoyed by children and adults alike. Easter Celebrations in Greece are full of religious festivities as well as unique cultural traditions and special food. Many Athenians head for their ancestral homes on the islands or in the countryside. Easter, or Pascha in Greek, is the most important religious holiday of the Orthodox Church marking the resurrection of Christ and the chance of rebirth for mankind. Easter celebrations in Leonidio, Peloponnese are a sight not to be missed. Appetizers, such as Greek olives and tzatziki (a cucumber yogurt dip), are served for guests to enjoy while watching the lamb cook on the spit. The festival accompanies the smells of spring, the rebirth of nature and the flower-carpeted ground. The holiest day of the week is Holy (or Great) Friday. Easter celebrations are exciting all over Greece; some of the most famous destinations to celebrate Easter are Corfu, Patmos, Chios and Leonidio. Various customs are associated with Easter celebration in Greece. The candles are used to light icon candelabra and are put on the table for the midnight meal. Greeks celebrate the festival with religious fervor, by attending special church services. On the morning of Holy Saturday, preparations begin for the next day’s Easter feast. The Resurrection of Christ is celebrated at Midnight with drum beats and fireworks lighting the skies as the church bells peal out and the hymn ‘Christos Anesti’ (Christ is Risen) is chanted by everybody. Enjoy watching the fascinating religious traditions and celebrations held in Corfu town. Eggs are immersed in red dye – the red colour symbolising the joy for Nature’s rebirth and the spiritual regeneration that comes with the Resurrection of Jesus. The atmosphere is festive and people listen and dance to folk music! The preparations and customs, including traditional foods and large feasts, remain an important part of modern Greek life. On Holy Thursday the service of the Holy Passion takes place; on that day the preparations for the celebration of the resurrection also begin. Easter is the greatest Christian celebration in Greece. Then people return home to gather round the festive table; they each hold a red egg and crack it with the person next to them exclaiming at the same time Christos Anesti. On Maundy Thursday, Greek home ovens get very busy as traditional tsoureki (a type of fragrant Easter brioche) is baked, along with lamprokouloura (Easter cookies). or Megali Evdomada.It starts with Palm Sunday (the day that commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem) and ends with the traditional Easter feast seven days later.On Thursday of Holy Week, tsoureki (Easter bread) is baked and eggs are dyed deep red. Before the eggs are eaten, there's a traditional challenge called tsougrisma. They are the first food eaten after the strict fasting of Lent in some families, while others enjoy them after dinner when everyone is gathered around the … If they do, traditional foods are simple and only those that can be boiled in water (not oil) and seasoned with vinegar. All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way. Ready to see some homes in Greece? It is also the only day of the year when the Divine Liturgy is not read. Learn About Greek Orthodox Great Lent Traditions, Tsougrisma: The Greek Red Egg Easter Game, Traditional Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets, 9 Authentic Latin and Caribbean Recipes for Easter, Pasen: Easter Traditions in the Netherlands, 32 Traditional Easter Foods From Around the World. Mageiritsa soup is a traditional dish prepared in most Greek houses (made with chopped offal and herbs). It is not only a significant religious event, but it is also a time for people to gather and celebrate Christ’s resurrection. It is the custom to carry the Eternal Flame home and use it to make the sign of the cross in smoke on the door frame. They may reach as high as three feet tall. This week is known as the Holy week or … Traditionally, women and children take flowers to the church to decorate the Epitaphio (the symbolic bier of Christ). Watch the fascinating local custom of colourful Easter lanterns floating in the sky. Don’t book the flights until you’re read our free Viewing Trip Guide. In Greece, red Easter eggs are traditionally dyed on Holy Thursday, but they can be done on any day leading up to Easter Sunday. In times gone by, superstitions grew into customs. It is also very much a holiday celebrated in the countryside: most Athenians go back to their villages during the holiday to be with their extended family and enjoy the Easter … The week leading up to Easter Sunday in Greece is called Holy Week. Written by GreekBoston.com in Greek Easter Traditions Comments Off on Get to Know These Greek Easter Traditions. In Nafplio, a symbolic Easter casket is carried in a funeral procession that winds through town. Easter in Greece celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection. Friends and neighbors exchange "Christos Anesti" with one another as a way of wishing one another well. The midnight Service of the Resurrection is an occasion attended by everyone who is able, including children. On Holy Saturday morning, preparations start for the festive dinner that is served after the Resurrection Midnight Mass. During Easter in Greece, travelers are likely to hear a few different greetings and phrases like "Happy Easter," in Greek it is " Kalo Pascha," which is written καλό Πάσχα. Visit Chios Island for your Easter holiday, and enjoy the special Easter festivities. On Holy (or Great) Saturday, the Eternal Flame is brought to Greece by a military jet and is distributed to waiting priests who carry it to their local churches. At midnight, attend the Catholic Mass of the Resurrection in the Catholic Cathedral, or the Orthodox Resurrection Service at Pano Plateia (Upper Square). Easter in Greece means lots of things, not only spiritually related. On Holy Saturday night, locals in Vrontados village get ready to light the skies at midnight, during the Easter Mass! Christians will attend a special church service and many will just take the day to relax and spend time with family and friends. Greeks follow the Holy Week rites in commemoration of the Passion of Christ and celebrate His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. All Rights Reserved. Easter in Greece is an unforgettable experience. - On Good Friday, young girls and ladies decorate Epitaphios with flowers in all parishes; the religious processions begin early in the afternoon accompanied by choruses and bands. The preparations and customs, including traditional foods and large feasts, remain an important part of modern Greek life. While each region may have its own local customs associated with Easter, there are several traditions that are observed by everyone. The sight of hundreds of candle flames moving from churches to homes on that night is indeed beautiful. Easter in Greece. People follow along the streets of cities, towns and villages listening to psalms being chanted. Then I remembered it was Good Friday — marking the day of Jesus' crucifixion. Greek City Times answers this question. This holiday is celebrated around late March and April. At dawn (or earlier), the spits are set to work and grills are fired up. Ships in ports all over Greece join in by sounding their horns, floodlights are lit on large buildings, and large and small displays of fireworks and noisemakers are set off. Thursday 4th March 2021: Tsiknopempti (Τσικνοπέμπτη) This is a special day of the year in Greece, where a large amount of meat is traditionally grilled and consumed, just before the arrival of Great Lent, marking the lead up to Pascha and also the official start of Apokries (Carnivale). Don’t miss the Holy Week’s highlights: - Attend a Municipal Theatre performance on Holy Wednesday evening, where the Municipal Chorus sings Christian hymns of the Passion Week. Easter is the one of the most sacred holidays for people in Greece. As a religious nation, Greek Orthodox Easter is a week-long celebration that includes a series of festivities. However, many prefer oven and stovetop lamb or kid dishes. When the clock passes midnight, the Priest calls out "Christos Anesti" (khree-STOHSS ah-NES-tee, "Christ is risen") and passes the flame (the light of the Resurrection) to those nearest him. Patmos Island is the place where the Book of the Apocalypse was written. Ovens are filled with traditional accompaniments and all the trimmings, such as patates fournou (potatoes roasted with citrus and oregano) and spanakotyropita (spinach and cheese pie). Eggs are often made in very large quantities since the game continues the next day with even more friends and family. but also enjoying the beautiful nature and wildflowers everywhere. Another national holiday, Easter Monday is a day to take things slowly. On the evening of Holy Thursday, church services include a symbolic representation of the crucifixion and the period of mourning begins. Religious festivals with centuries-old traditions and customs take place throughout the year in Greece and Orthodox Easter is one of the greatest such celebrations. It would not be wrong to say that this festival eliminates the difference in ages between the generations. It may be more casual, but it is definitely a day filled with delicious leftovers and a time to relax from the all the previous celebrations. The main focus of Easter Sunday is on traditional Greek Easter foods. Preparations for the meal turn into festive celebrations, even before the eating begins. The Corfu Cathedral Epitaphios is the last and most impressive one to complete the tour of the town streets. Easter is one of my favorite times to be in Greece for a couple of reasons. In 2020 Easter Sunday is on 19 April, but the celebrations start long before then, and are quite special. This is when the traditional Easter bread, tsoureki, is baked and eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ. Easter wishes are a bit complicated and depend on whether they are exchanged before of after Jesus Resurrection. For information please contact: info@visitgreece.gr. The Greeks follow the Eastern Orthodox Church and thus, celebrations begin from the Holy Thursday and last for one whole week. In an interview to SKAI television, Mitsotakis expressed optimism for the months ahead adding that following vaccination, when “we … In many villages and cities, women will sit in church throughout the night in traditional mourning. Each person holds a white candle that is only used for this service. Housewives traditionally prepare the Easter bun (“tsoureki”) and dye eggs with special red dyes, a … In the average Greeks wish Καλό Πάσχα! Orthodox Easter Sunday in Greece Many Orthodox churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, which often differs from the Gregorian calendar that is used by many western countries. Firecrackers as big as rockets get set off creating amazing colourful shapes of light on the black canvas of the night! It also involved marking the heads and backs of small lambs with the red dye to protect them. Which European country will inspire your culinary journey tonight? Greek Easter Sunday means eating Greek lamb, goat, kokoretsi, wine, tsoureki bread and cracking red eggs, while visiting family, friends, dancing etc. Greece is probably the easiest place to always find plenty of vegetable dishes. Easter is the most important religious holiday in Greek Orthodox calendar, a bigger to-do than Christmas. Before midnight, people gather in church holding white candles, which they light with the “Holy Light” offered by the priest. Beans or thin soups like tahinosoupa (a soup made with tahini) are quite common. Happy Easter! Vaccinations are key to returning to normalcy which includes opening borders to tourists, said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is forecasting improved conditions in spring one day after announcing a new lockdown for the wider Athens region.. The event is always televised and if there's a threat of bad weather or a delay, the entire country agonizes until the flame arrives safely. The bier is decorated lavishly with flowers and bears the image of Christ. The special candles that are made for Easter are called labatha (lah-BAH-thah). The cracking tradition symbolizes Christ's resurrection from the dead and birth into eternal life. Across the country it is the most important religious holiday of the Orthodox Church accompanied with traditions and customs that date back to time. The smoke cross is left there throughout the year, symbolizing that the light of the Resurrection has blessed the home. Members of the congregation follow, carrying candles. Once home, everyone gathers around the table for a traditional meal to break the fast. This will be eaten after the midnight service. While the islands and villages of Greece are known for their religious festivals during the period of resurrection, spending Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens is as memorable as it is spiritual. Though the candle itself is typically white, it can be lavishly decorated with favorite children’s heroes or storybook characters. In the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most sacred observance. The preparations and customs, including traditional foods and large feasts, remain an important part of modern Greek life. Shortly before midnight, all lights are extinguished and the churches are lit only by the Eternal Flame on the altar. It commemorates the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and celebrates the resurrection. Celebration\ Observance. Afterwards, they return to their homes and the families sit together at the table to … Toward the end of Holy Week, which is between Palm Sunday and Easter, the … Kalo Pascha! In response, they will say "Alithos Anesti" (ah-lee-THOHSS ah-NES-tee, "truly, He is risen") or "Alithinos o Kyrios" (ah-lee-thee-NOHSS o KEE-ree-yohss, "true is the Lord"). During the Passion Week, in the Monastery of St. John, you will experience the observance of Early Christian rituals such as The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet, and the Deposition of Christ’s body from the Cross. One of the most heartfelt and special occasions within the Greek Orthodox Calendar is definitely Easter and the weeks leading to its celebration. The night air is filled with the singing of the Byzantine Chant "Christos Anesti," and the "fili tis Agapis" ("kiss of Agape"). Toward the end of Holy Week, which is between Palm Sunday and Easter, the preparations for Easter come to a climax. Even more important than Christmas or New Year’s Day, Easter is a unique moment all over Greece, full of rituals, traditions, and stunning food. So, if you’re invited to join a Greek Easter table, don’t miss this experience for anything in the world. In Greece, Easter is the main event, one where food, naturally, plays a starring role. Food and Traditions of Greek Orthodox Easter. A resident of Greece, Nancy Gaifyllia is a cook who writes about the country's regional specialties. When in Greece… exchange Easter wishes like a Greek! As Easter is an important festival in Greece and celebrated with more courage and happiness than compared to Christmas, it is equally attended by the people all age-groups whether they are old or young. As soon as "Christos Anesti" is called out, it is also the custom for church bells to ring joyously non-stop. Greek Orthodox Easter relates to Spring and the nature coming out from the clothing of winter. During the Holy Week, the churches’ chandeliers and icon screens are dressed in black and purple ribbons, enhancing in this way the atmosphere of mourning for the coming crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday morning, in many parts of the country lamb is skewered and cooked over charcoal. Great Greek wines, ouzo, and other drinks flow freely. At the end of the evening service a procession takes place headed by Epitaphios, the priests and acolytes. A number of customs are associated with the celebration of the festival, which is a fifty-day religious affair, in the nation. In other regions, the meat for the Easter table - lamb or kid - is roasted in the oven. At 11.00 in the morning, the litany of the Holy Shrine of Saint Spyridon takes place in recognition of the miraculous deliverance of the island from the spread of the deadly plague in 1629. Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more! Easter celebrations are exciting all over Greece; some of the most famous destinations to celebrate Easter are Corfu, Patmos, Chios and Leonidio. Easter is one of Greece's most important festivals and is celebrated throughout the country. Listen to the music performed by the Corfu Philharmonic Bands, and enjoy the overwhelming experience! Easter Traditions in Greece Greek Orthodox Easter, called Pascha, is by far the most important feast for the Greeks, celebrating the suffering and martyrdom of Jesus Christ as well as, his resurrection and the chance of rebirth for mankind, symbolized by the coming of spring. Candles are lit everywhere: they are fixed on balconies and window sills or held by attendees. Flags are hung at half-mast and church bells ring all day in a slow, mournful tone. On Good Friday in churches Epitaphios (a wooden canopied bier representing the tomb of Christ) is covered with flowers of various colours. GNTO © 2021. Easter celebrations in Greece are a massive affair, observed with great religious pomp and fanfare. When is Greek Orthodox Easter 2021? Let’s find out about some of these age-old traditions. On the Greek islands Holy Week ceremonies begin on Palm Sunday. In the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most sacred observance. For Greeks, the Greek Orthodox Easter is the most important holiday of the year. The flame is then passed from person to person and it isn't long before the church and courtyard are glowing with flickering candlelight. The winner is the one whose egg has remained intact! Greek Orthodox Easter is the stuff that myths are made of: age-old fasting rituals, candle-lit processions, lambs whirling on a spit and fireworks at midnight. Dishes that can be prepared in advance are made. Holding your egg, you tap the end against the end of your opponent's egg, trying to crack it. This is a public holiday so most stores, offices, and businesses are closed. First of all even if you are not a devout Christian you can't help but be moved by the ceremonies and the way life begins again on Easter Sunday after winter and 40 days of fasting. The meal is a lengthy affair, often lasting long into the night, sometimes up to four hours. While there are many unique local customs, there are of course some that are observed by all Greeks. In case you are a vegetarian, do not worry! Enjoy watching the fascinating religious traditions and celebrations held in Corfu town. But in many ways Greek Easter—or Pascha—can be an even richer experience if you spend it in Athens. Get our cookbook, free, when you sign up for our newsletter. (photo: Rick Steves) A few years ago in Greece, I noticed flags flying at half-staff, and wondered who had died. Easter is the biggest religious holiday of the year for Greeks. Easter preparations begin on Holy (or Great) Thursday. As spring makes its annual appearance, Greeks celebrate this solemn occasion in a variety of ways worth discovering. The traditional mayiritsa soup, which uses the organs and intestines of the lamb that will be roasted, is prepared. As soon as “Christ is Risen” is chanted for the first time during the Easter Midnight Service, the lanterns start rising in the sky with the help of ignited petroleum-soaked cloth placed at their base; the spectacle is truly breathtaking! During the service, it is carried on the shoulders of the faithful in a procession that runs through the community to the cemetery and back. The customary main attraction of the day is whole roasted lamb or goat (kid) to represent the Lamb of God. These include placing the first red egg at the home's iconostasis (the place where icons are displayed) to ward off evil. Therefore the Orthodox Easter period often occurs later than the Easter period that falls around the time of … You have to visit Greece once and celebrate Easter in one of the locations mentioned here. The Greek Church marks Easter by the Grecian calendar and so Greece celebrates Easter a few days later than other European countries. The crowds are so big that churches fill to overflowing as anticipation mounts. Easter festivities start a week before Easter, in the lead up to Good Friday Church services are held each night and more and more people attend throughout the week, with the largest turnout for the Anastasi mass on Holy Saturday, which marks the night of Christ's resurrection. The word tsougrisma means \"clinking together\" or \"clashing.\" In Greek, it is τσούγκρισμα and is pronounced TSOO-grees-mah. from Palm Sunday until Good Wednesday or Good Thursday. For Greeks, Orthodox Easter is the biggest holiday of the year. The Holy Week, or Megali Evdomada, is brimming with symbolic events, festivities, and traditions followed by the whole nation, though the … This includes the mayiritsa soup, tsoureki (sweet bread), and red eggs, which were prepared earlier.
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