Easter in Greece

Easter in Greece 

Blog Post #2

April 12, 2015

By, Annika Cotler 

Every country has that one holiday that is so important to them. They all celebrate them differently as well. In Greece, Easter is one of the most important. They start celebrating seven weeks in advance. It all starts on Holy Thursday which is when the wives create different types of cakes called tsourekia, biscuits and red color eggs. The eggs are to symbolize the rebirth and the color red is for the blood of Christ that Jesus shed for our salvation. They believe that Good Friday is the most sacred day.It is so sacred that housewives avoid doing housework to mourn the death of Jesus. They have many different traditions and rituals that are celebrated on Good Friday.  One of them is they hold a special celebration called Epitaphios, which they have all the flowered tombs of Christ and parade them all around the town.Then on Good Saturday, everyone goes to Church at midnight and they get the Holy Light. The Holy Light is where the priest takes a torch and then places a flame on each one of the followers candles. When they go home that night they take the smoke and make a sign of the cross on the front door. Then the family gets together and eats a dish that they like to call magiritsa. On Easter Sunday, they then grill up the lamb and have it for lunch with a bottle of tasteful wine. Easter in the Greek’s eyes is the most holy holiday. They also think it is the most joyous because it is the celebration of spring and the rebirth. This is one of the biggest celebrations in Greece. 

                                         http://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/about-greece/history-and-culture/culture.html?page=8

                                         http://www.greeka.com/greece-culture/festivals/
                                         http://www.greek-islands.us/greece/easter-in-greece/easter-3.jpg