Celebration of Easter

[Prokomenos]

Easter is the more important celebration for the Greeks, even more than Christmas.

Women dye eggs in red, godparents buy news shoes, clothes and a candle to the kids and, in villages, the exterior of the houses and the streets are whitewashed.

During Good Friday, the day of mourning, the Epitaphio, the tomb of Christ with its icon, decorated with thousands of flowers, is taken out of the church and carried away through the village or the neighbourhood (in the big cities) to the cemetery followed by a slow procession. At the cemetery everyone lights a candle for the dead; then, the Epitaphio with its procession returns to the church where the believers kiss the image of the Christ.

During the night of the Holy Saturday (Megalo Savato), everybody dresses well and goes to the church where a ceremony is hold. Just before midnight, the priest turns off all of the churches’ lights, symbolizing the darkness and silent of the tomb; at midnight, the priest lights a candle from the Eternal Flame, sings “Christos Anesti” (Christ arises) and offers the flame to light the candle of the people that are the closest to him. Everyone passes the flame one to another while the priests sing the Byzantine Chant Christos Anesti.

Then, everyone goes out of the church to the streets. The church’s bells ring continuously and people throw fireworks. People say one to another “Christos Anestis”, to which the reply to is “Alithos Anesti” (indeed he has rise).
People go home and share with their families the Resurrection Meal which consists of Mayiritsa (a lamb’s entrails soup), Tsoureki (Easter cake) and Easter biscuits.

The following day, Easter Sunday, is spend in family around a meal consisting of roasted lamb (turned over open pits), various appetizers and a lot of wine and ouzo. Everybody dances and celebrates until late in the night.