Blog | Easter in Greece and its traditions

Religious festivals with centuries-old traditions and customs take place throughout the year in Greece and Orthodox Easter is one of the greatest such celebrations. Greeks follow the Holy Week rites in commemoration of the Passion of Christ and celebrate His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Let’s find out about some of these age-old traditions.

During the Holy Week, the churches’ chandeliers and icon screens are dressed in black and purple ribbons, enhancing in this way the atmosphere of mourning for the coming crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. On Maundy Thursday, Greek home ovens get very busy as traditional tsoureki (a type of fragrant Easter brioche) is baked, along with lamprokouloura (Easter cookies). Eggs are immersed in red dye – the red color symbolizing the joy for Nature’s rebirth and the spiritual regeneration that comes with the Resurrection of Jesus. On Good Friday in churches Epitaphios (a wooden canopied bier representing the tomb of Christ) is covered with flowers of various colors. At the end of the evening service, a procession takes place headed by Epitaphios, the priests and acolytes. People follow along the streets of cities, towns, and villages listening to psalms being chanted.

Normally at this time of the year, we have guests coming to do our e-bike ride, but since the whole world is on lockdown, we have to find other ways...

Therefore we will show you how to make Easter cookies.

Source http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/religion/easter_in_greece