When is Greek Easter This Year and Popular Traditions

When Is Greek Easter?

If you have not experienced an Orthodox Easter in Greece then you have not truly experienced Greek culture. We will do our best to paint you a picture of Greek Orthodox Easter until you can experience it for yourself.

This year Greek Easter is Sunday, April 20th. It is a beautiful time to visit Greece in the height of spring. The weather is nice but not sweltering hot, the sea is inviting, and the flowers and plants are showing off in the sunlight.

There is so much leading up to Greek Easter in the months prior, starting with Tsikno Pempti (BBQ Thursday) the second to last Thursday of February. It is a huge BBQ feast before the start of the 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter. Then there is Carnival, a huge party with costumes and parades which is right before Clean Monday, the first day of the 40 days of fasting. On Clean Monday, people fast from meat, cheese, alcohol, and more. Family and friends traditionally celebrate Clean Monday with a church service followed by a meal of seafood by the sea. Many people go outside if it is a beautiful day and fly kites. You can see kites all through the city and seaside. 

The Holy Week

Easter is celebrated the entire week, known as The Holy Week, with Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday celebrated as public holidays. The week includes attending church, engaging in fasting and participating in various traditions. 

Good Friday is a sacred day in Greece. Traditionally, the day starts out with girls and women decorating a replica of Christ’s funeral bier with flowers which is then marched through the streets of villages or neighborhoods followed by an evening mass, “The Epitaph Mass.” Good Friday is also a mournful day – flags in homes and businesses are set to half-mast in remembrance of Jesus on the cross.

Greek Easter Traditions

Easter Sunday is known as “Anastasis” aka The Resurrection. Women typically start cooking Saturday morning for the midnight feast that breaks the 40 days of fasting; they make magiritsa, a type of soup with lamb offal (heart, liver, lungs and other organs).

People start to gather around the churches and platias (squares) of the cities and villages before 11:00 pm all carrying candles, known as “lampada” in Greek. Before midnight the lights of the churches go out symbolizing the darkness that Christ had to endure. A priest appears holding a lighted candle, known as “The Holy Candle,” reciting the phrase “Avto to Fos” which means “This is the Light.” His candle, is used to light several of the church-goers’ candles, which in turn then light their neighbour’s candles. This continues until the entire church or platia is lit with flickering candle light. The lighting of the candles is said to be the most significant moment of the entire year.

At midnight, the resurrection of Christ is proclaimed and is celebrated with fireworks and church bells. Fireworks light up the city and village sky in a majestic display. Everyone offers the salutation “Christós Anésti” (Christ has risen) to each other, which is responded to with the phrase “Alithós Anésti” (He has truly risen).

Dying and Cracking Red Eggs

After church, everyone returns to their homes to festive tables and break their fast with the traditional soup, magiritsa. It is said that if you can make it home without your candle going out, you will have a good year. Before entering their homes, people make the symbol of a cross in the air with the smoke of the candle above the door. Devout followers light an oil candle inside the home beside their icon; they will keep this light burning throughout the year.

After the traditional dinner, family and friends gather to crack red eggs. Easter eggs are dyed red to exemplify the blood of Christ. The hard shell of the egg is said to replicate the sealed tomb of Christ. Cracking the egg illustrates the resurrection. The game symbolises resurrection and new life. If your egg does not crack, you are thought to have good luck for the year.

Experience Greek Easter for Yourself

Easter Monday is considered to be a day of rest after the week-long festivities. Many people depart from the villages and islands to head back to their homes in the city and take the day to prepare for the return to work or school. One of the best parts after Easter is the leftovers from the week which are typically eaten on this day.

As you can see, Orthodox Easter in Greece is taken very seriously with the biggest of celebrations and oldest of traditions.

If you want to experience an Orthodox Easter in Greece, let Eyia Retreats help plan your travels! Reach out to us here. We will do all the planning for you so your travels are as relaxing as possible, even before they begin.

We hope you have a lovely Easter celebration this year! Tell us, what is your favorite part about Easter?

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