Easter rituals in Greece

1. Customs and traditions
of Easter in Greece

2. Easter is called the Lilac Easter
This is the most important and the biggest religious
festival of the year in Greece and mentions not only
the death of Christ but mostly the Resurrection.

3. The week of the Passion is the Holy Week because “big” is what will
happen.
“Holy Monday, big day.
Holy Tuesday, great crisis.
Holy Wednesday, great darkness.
Holy Thursday, tears falling.
Holy Friday, a lot of grief.
Saturday, full of joy.
And Easter egg and lamb. "

4. • Holy Monday: Fasting for all
Nowadays, many start Holy Week’s fasting on the Holy Monday until
Communion on Holy Saturday.
• Holy Tuesday: Cleaning
This day is dedicated to cleaning the house.
In the church they read the Parable of the Ten Virgins, while the
night is chanted the mantra of Kassiani.
• Holy Wednesday: The new dough
Formerly, every year on Holy Wednesday they brewed the new
dough -the leaven of the year. In the neighborhoods in fact, women
of the church went from house to house, they collected flour and
kneaded without yeast. The priest went on and he leaned over the
cross of the Holy Cross and blew flour. That would be the leaven of
the year and they shared a piece of it in every home. On the
afternoon of Holy Wednesday, in our churches, celebrated the
Sacrament of Unction Great.

5. • Holy Thursday: “Red falls” - Kokkinopefti
On Holy Thursday it is painting eggs, which indicates the blood
of Christ shed on the testimonies. That is why we call Red falls -
Kokkinopefti. The egg has another notation Resurrection. The
egg symbolized for the Christians the grave, from which Christ
resurrected – and that is the meaning of breaking eggs after the
Resurrection.

6. On Holy Thursday evening, having finished the 12 Gospels, girls
undertake to decorate the bier with all the spring flowers. They
make wreaths and garlands, while chanting the lament of
Mother Mary. On the evening of Holy Thursday, the women
awake in church and mourn Christ. All worship the Epitaph and
pass underneath "to catch the grace of Christ.“

7. Also, in many parts of the country
on Holy Thursday women knead
buns or so-called "coils Easter",
which also symbolize
the resurrection,
as the flour is transformed with
kneading and becomes bread.

8. • Holy Friday: Mourning large
 The Holy Friday represents the trial of Jesus by Pontius Pilate,
the martyr's path to Golgotha ​​and the Crucifixion. This is the day
of the Passion.
 The evening it is celebrated the procession of the Epitaph,
while the bells ring mournfully all day. In other parts of Greece
people hold the flowers of the Epitaph after the procession,
because they are considered miraculous.

9.  For believers fasting day is strict and prohibits even the oil,
while the custom forbids any work that day. In many parts of the
country make an effigy of Judas, which was delivered to the fire
after the procession of the Epitaph. Also on this day the faithful
are accustomed to visit the graves of deceased relatives and
friends.

10. • Holy Saturday: Christ is Risen
 Holy Saturday is the feast of the Resurrection. In many churches it
starts fall many fireworks.
 The climax is on midnight. People go to church late at night
carrying with torches and candles. The midnight the lights of the
church are extinguished and the priest sings Come Receive the Light
(Holy Light every year arrives with a special flight from the Olympic
Jerusalem, sharing in all the churches of Greece).
 After following the Resurrection Gospel, usually in the courtyard
of the church, the priest marks the Resurrection of Christ singing the
Risen Christ.

11.  The table is laid with
the traditional soup
“magiritsa”,
red eggs and Easter treats
 Upon returning home many make a cross above the door with the
smoke of their candle.
 Believers after the operation are carrying the Holy Fire to their
homes. The custom wants them to guard it, to not disappear for
forty days.
 People crack red eggs and wishes
Christ Risen,
flares and fireworks light up the sky.

12. • Sunday of Easter: Egg, feast and lamb!
 This is the great feast of Easter. From early morning baked
the traditional lamb on the spit on the spit, while friends and
relatives gathered around the festive table to eat and have
fun until late afternoon.
 Easter is the biggest celebration of Christianity.

13. Our best wishes
2nd Secondary school of Corinth