Easter is the most memorable holiday to be spent in Greece. Even if you are not the most devout Christian, you can’t help but be moved by the celebrations and they way life renews after 40 days of fast.

But the beauty of the holiday is only “competing” with the beauty of nature. Springtime in Greece is magnificent: wildflowers are in bloom and the hillsides are green.

For someone who is a Christian Orthodox, celebrating Easter in Greece has a special meaning, thanks to the strong religious background of the country. All over the South-Eastern Europe, the Easter celebrations are similar but traditions vary in each country.

The celebrations start during the week before Easter, also known as the Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, a week before Easter Sunday, Orthodox Christians celebrate the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem. Traditionally only fish dishes are eaten on this day (remember, the fast hasn’t ended yet).

Holy Thursday is the day when all preparations for the Resurrection start. Traditionally on this day women prepare tsourekia –sweet sesame-crusted rolls- and color the eggs with special red dyes. The eggs are the symbol of rebirth and represent Christ’s tomb. The red color represents Christ’s blood. On Thursday morning the service commemorates the Last Supper and the Betrayal of Christ and in the evening, the service is very long and features twelve gospel readings. During the night, women and children go to church and decorate the Epitaph with flowers.

The most sacred day of the Holy Week is Good Friday. It’s a day of fast when women avoid any chore, including cooking. A special soup made from lettuce, lentils, tahini and vinegar is eaten.

In the morning, Christ’s burial is enacted and in the evening the Epitaph procession takes place.

On Easter Saturday morning the preparations for the festive dinner after the midnight mass begin. Women make magiritsa, a special soup made from lamb pluck and herbs.

Around 11 PM, people gather in (and around) the church, holding white candles. During the mass, the candles are light with the “Holy Light” given by the priest. At midnight the priest sings the Pascal Hymn: “Christ has risen from the dead and in so doing has trampled on death and to those in the tombs he has given life”. When he chants “Christos Anesti!” (Christ has arisen!) the people reply “Alithos Anesti” (Truly He Has Arisen).

People take the “Holy Light” home and they thrice make the sign of the cross on the door post over the front door of their house. This brings the family good luck the entire year.

There is something magical when you see the sea of people holding the Holy Light. It’s probably the most important ceremony of Easter, affecting both believers and non-believers.

Then they gather around the table and eat the soup made on Easter Saturday and crack red eggs.

After the noon mass on Easter Sunday, traditionally lamb or goat is prepared on a spit (or roasted in the oven).

Kalo Paska! (Happy Easter!)

>>more information on Easter Food in Greece