EASTER
THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION IN GREECE

Copyright@2004 Maria Drogitis-Stoufis

Originally The Bible was written in Ancient Hebrew and Greek.. Saint Peter the Apostle himself traveled to Greece to spread The Word of Christianity. So, when some of Christianity's earliest roots can be traced back to Ancient Greece it is understandable that Greeks, throughout the world, are a people with their Christian beliefs deeply imbedded within them. These beliefs survived 400 years of Ottoman occupation and surfaced again openly, without fear, stronger than ever having helped keep the Greek people strong and united as one. So much so that they are a way of life, even today, despite the world we live in.

Easter is, without doubt, the greatest of the Christian festivities to all the Greek Orthodox. The importance of Easter has lost none of its meaning, nor has it been clouded or confused among the many frills that are associated with this celebration nowadays. It is, and always has been, about the glorification of The Christ Savior after His crucifixion and His resurrection from death. Greeks have held their own and kept their deeply rooted beliefs and customs and go all out to honour His ascend to eternal life.

The Orthodox Easter coincides with other Christian Easters only every 4 years and we have a long procession of festivities, in one form or another, age old traditions, leading up to Easter. Of course, there are also localized traditions which vary from location to location throughout the country, but generally all the celebrations commence Greece wide approximately 2 months prior to Easter with the Carnival Season - or Madi Gra. Carnivals last for a full fortnight and are marked by parades and nights out at the 'bouzoúkia' till the wee hours of the morning... for those who have the energy and stamina. The Carnivals' end is marked, throughout Greece, on the second Carnival Sunday with the 'Burning of the Carnival King'. Setting fire to an enormous paper maché 'King' in the early evening and fireworks. So many that they smoke up the evening sky and turn night into day. Carnival Sunday's dinner is always a generous roast with all the trimmings.

The following day dawns and is the official stepping stone into the Pre-Easter period. The 40 day Lent. This special day is 'Kathará Deftéra' - or 'Clean Monday'. A National holiday which is celebrated with picnics and kite flying throughout the entire country. The festive picnic 'table' consists of mouth watering seafood and vegetable dishes:

Octopus and calamari - fried, grilled over charcoal or prepared with sauces
Prawns - any which way takes your fancy
Taramosaláta - fish roe dip
Dolmáddes - rice stuffed vine leaves
Halvás - a semolina pudding
Delicious meat free salads and the ever popular Lagána - a terrific enormous, flat, unleavened
bread. And a host of other delicious meat free dishes (that's one of the reasons why the roast
on Carnival Sunday is so generous...)

This 40 day period is also host to a large number of special days such as 'The Sunday of Orthodoxy' and 'Crucifixion Sunday'. Days which are always fasting days - no meat. For many people meat is off the menu altogether for the entire 40 days. For others fasting of not such a severe sort is kept. Fasting of meat is particularly kept on Wednesdays and Fridays. Almost everyone, however, fasts during Holy Week. Seafood of every sort has a place of honour on every table in every household. Throughout this period church going plays a large part in almost every family.

Everything builds up to a crescendo during Holy Week. On Holy Thursday housewives prepare the Easter table centrepiece: died red eggs. Tales dating back to Ancient Christianity say that The Virgin Mother died eggs red to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, as a symbol of life. This custom has remained with us since. The smell of kouloúria - dough cookies - fill every kitchen and the aromas of Tsouréki - Easter sweet bread - baking fill the air.

In the early hours just before the dawn on Good Friday, in every city and every village, you will see the Procession of the Epitaph of Christ. In Zakynthos we still keep a tradition rooted in the Venetian occupation of the island which lasted 4 centuries. From almost every balcony from almost every house the residents throw 'Stámnes' - large water filled clay pitchers - onto the streets (often aiming at the feet of passers by), after the Procession. Be warned, don't dare venture into the streets if you don't have a good sense of humour. This custom is also practiced in Corfu.

Good Friday is a day of mourning and work of any and all sorts is on hold and all households rest. Not only is meat fasting observed but many people abstain from eating even oil. Come Saturday, however, everything springs back to life and the last of the preparations are taken care of.

NO-ONE sleeps before midnight, not even the elderly, in anticipation of The Resurrection. The squares with open services and the churches begin to fill at about 11 p.m. for the service. In every hand, young or old, you will find a candle or 'lampáda' - a large white candle. And at precisely 12 midnight the church bells toll, gunshots are fired, fireworks light up the midnight sky and 'Christós Anésti' is heard from every loud speaker and every mouth. 'Alithinós O Kírios' is the response. Christ has risen - True is The Lord. And those hundreds of candles in every hand, young or old, are lit from the original flame which is spread from candle to candle throughout the world from the flame that is brought every year, by special flights, from the Holy Lands from the very birthplace of Christ which now has a temple erected on it.

The lit candle is taken to each home with reverence, and before entering the home, the entrance is crossed with the flame for good luck and protection. The candle is allowed to burn down as it will through the night. COMMENCE THE CRACKING OF THE EGGS! One red died egg in each persons hand and it's good luck for whoever has the egg that cracks the most others without it cracking first. (They always taste better than regular eggs, as well.) If there was ever a traditional Greek festive table it is, without a doubt, the 'Resurrection Table' and the Easter Sunday Table. The Resurrection Table is a small smorgasbord of kouloúra - an Easter bread that is blessed and crossed before being cut, Tsouréki, hiroméri - smoked salted pork, red Easter eggs, cheeses and Magirítsa - a creamy egg soup with chopped kidney and liver (some people like me prefer a delicious lamb fricassée with lettuce in egg sauce...) and looooots of wine! The festivities continue well after the first hours of the morning (Greeks can eat and celebrate at even the most unlikely hours) and despite our lack of sleep we are early risers full of gusto Easter Sunday morning for the preparation of the Easter Sunday celebration - oh, yes. MORE food. A tradition as old as Easter itself, in Greece. And what a site is the Easter Sunday table! EVERYTHING goes into this festive meal. Salads you can't imagine, vegetable dishes that make your mouth water, wines, ouzo and the place of honour is always held by the whole spiced lamb roasting away on a spit over hot charcoals. Rare is the occasion, however, that you will be able to resist the incredible aromas rising from the lamb and not take a fork to it while it is still on the spit.

The Sunday celebration often lasts for hours with friends and family popping in and well wishing and always a plate of food is foisted onto the guest. 'Giá to kaló tis iméras!' - 'For the good of the day!'. Turning it down is not even a consideration - it would be an insult to the host! Evening meal? At this point there usually isn't a remote possibility that anything could go down... not even for a Greek.... With tummies full to the extreme and a happy heart the sun sets on Easter Sunday. And everyone's wishes 'Ke tou hrónou' - 'And next year'.

And to you, our friends, in every corner of the world, regardless of race, colour, creed and religion, whole hearted warm Greek wishes,

'Kaló Pás'ha'
A happy Easter,
God bless,

Maria Drogitis-Stoufis,
www.authentic-greek-recipes.com

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