Greek Easter!
-How many weeks do people have vacay?
-How often do people go to the church?
-What special food do people eat on Holy week?
-What special traditions or games are there about eggs in these coutries?
Post your articles in the comment section. You can add any photos or videos you wish. You are also encouraged to comment on your peers' articles an express your preferences about where you would like to spend your Easter holidays after all.
Greek Easter Traditions
There are many traditions in Greece around Easter and the week leading up to Easter plays a major role in these. This week is known as Holy Week or ‘Megali Evdomada’.
Throughout Holy Week people go to church at least once a day. Traditionally people fast and they do not eat meat, oil or dairy products until midnight on Easter Saturday night, after the symbolic Ressurection (Anastasis)
There are many traditions in Greece around Easter and the week leading up to Easter plays a major role in these. This week is known as Holy Week or ‘Megali Evdomada’.
Throughout Holy Week people go to church at least once a day. Traditionally people fast and they do not eat meat, oil or dairy products until midnight on Easter Saturday night, after the symbolic Ressurection (Anastasis)
Holy Monday – Megali Deftera
The first day of Holy Week people go to church and kiss the icon of Christ.
The first day of Holy Week people go to church and kiss the icon of Christ.
Holy Tuesday – Megali Triti
On this day women bake Easter biscuits “koulourakia’ with oil and eggs, to be eaten after the fast is over on Easter Sunday.
On this day women bake Easter biscuits “koulourakia’ with oil and eggs, to be eaten after the fast is over on Easter Sunday.
Holy Wednesday – Megali
Tetarti
People go to church to be blessed with oil. All household chores must be finished today.
People go to church to be blessed with oil. All household chores must be finished today.
Holy Thursday – Megali Pempti
People go to church early in the morning and bow before Christ on the Cross. The women dye eggs red to symbolise the blood of Christ, and bake Easter bread – Tsoureki. These will be placed on the Easter table to be eaten after Saturday.
People go to church early in the morning and bow before Christ on the Cross. The women dye eggs red to symbolise the blood of Christ, and bake Easter bread – Tsoureki. These will be placed on the Easter table to be eaten after Saturday.
Holy Friday – Megali Paraskevi
This is the most sacred day of Holy Week and it is a day of mourning and grief. The church bells ring the all morning. Girls decorate the Epitafio – the funeral bier and a service is held for Christ’s funeral. Today women rest and men are forbidden to play cards. In the evening, the Epitafio is paraded through the village or town streets silently.
This is the most sacred day of Holy Week and it is a day of mourning and grief. The church bells ring the all morning. Girls decorate the Epitafio – the funeral bier and a service is held for Christ’s funeral. Today women rest and men are forbidden to play cards. In the evening, the Epitafio is paraded through the village or town streets silently.
Holy Saturday – Megali Savvato
People go to church in the morning which is filled with flowers. In the villages men slaughter lambs for Easter Sunday. The women bake cheese pies – kalitsounia. In Crete children make a figure of Judas to burn on bonfires later at the midnight celebration.
The Midnight Easter Service & The Resurrection – Saturday Night
The Anastasi, the Resurrection, takes place at midnight.In the whole of Greece, people go to church at midnight for the lighting of the Holy Flame. The Priest passes the Holy Flame throughout the crowd and all light a candle with cries of Christos Anesti!- Christ is Risen. Fireworks are then thrown in the sky in celebration. The people take their lit candles home and make the sign of a cross with the black from the candle flame in the doorway of their homes before entering. Now the fast stops and people can eat the Mageiritsa – a meat soup made with offal, and red eggs and kalitsounia.
People go to church in the morning which is filled with flowers. In the villages men slaughter lambs for Easter Sunday. The women bake cheese pies – kalitsounia. In Crete children make a figure of Judas to burn on bonfires later at the midnight celebration.
The Midnight Easter Service & The Resurrection – Saturday Night
The Anastasi, the Resurrection, takes place at midnight.In the whole of Greece, people go to church at midnight for the lighting of the Holy Flame. The Priest passes the Holy Flame throughout the crowd and all light a candle with cries of Christos Anesti!- Christ is Risen. Fireworks are then thrown in the sky in celebration. The people take their lit candles home and make the sign of a cross with the black from the candle flame in the doorway of their homes before entering. Now the fast stops and people can eat the Mageiritsa – a meat soup made with offal, and red eggs and kalitsounia.
Easter Sunday – Kyriaki tou
Paska
Families and friends meet up for the Easter Day roasting of lamb outside on a spit and a big celebration party with food, wine, music and dancing all day long.
Families and friends meet up for the Easter Day roasting of lamb outside on a spit and a big celebration party with food, wine, music and dancing all day long.
Special rituals or traditions are followed during Easter time in other countries as well, such as Mexico or Norway, and others.Choose a country of your preference and write an article about how Easter is being celebrated there. Don't forget to answer the following questions:
-How many weeks do people have vacay?
-How often do people go to the church?
-What special food do people eat on Holy week?
-What special traditions or games are there about eggs in these coutries?
Post your articles in the comment section. You can add any photos or videos you wish. You are also encouraged to comment on your peers' articles an express your preferences about where you would like to spend your Easter holidays after all.
You can find further information here:
Greek Easter
Happy Easter!
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