Greek Easter. Easter in Crete & Greece

Greek Easter in Crete is celebrated with many local customs and traditions.
Easter ('Paska') is the most important holiday in Greece, and in the Greek
Orthodox Church.

Greek Orthodox Easter usually falls one to five weeks after the Western
(Protestant, Catholic) Easter, while approximately once every four years it falls
on the same date.

In 2012 the Greek Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday April 15th.

Clean Monday APOKRIES (Kathara Deftera) is a bank holiday and marks the start
of Lent and 49 days of fasting, although nowadays few people strictly fast for
the whole of Lent. Easter fasting excludes meat, fish (but not seafood), eggs, oil
and dairy products from the diet.

Holy Week (Megali Evdomada) starts Monday April 9th 2012
The week leading up to Easter is known as Holy Week (Megali Evdomada) and
this is when most people take their fasting seriously.
Church services are held throughout Holy Week.
Many tavernas close during this week, and the ones that stay open have mostly
seafood and vegetable dishes on their menu.
The women dye eggs red (symbolising the blood of Christ) and bake Easter
biscuits 'koulourakia' and kalitsounia (cheese pies), to be eaten after Easter
Saturday when the fast ends.

Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi) April 13th 2012
Good Friday is a day of mourning and churches usually ring out the death toll
throughout the morning - a steady toll of one ring of the bell. The evening
church service starts at 7pm and after the service, at around 8.30pm, there is a
subdued procession through the streets carrying the epitaph, or coffin, with the
congregation following behind, usually all dressed in black.

Shops and supermarkets close at 3 - 4 pm on Good Friday, and many tavernas
remain closed today.

Easter Saturday (Megalo Sabbato) April 14th 2012
In Crete village children spend the day preparing a bonfire and an effigy of Judas
outside the church to burn after the midnight service.
The Anastasi, the Resurrection, takes place at midnight and is the culmination of
Holy Week. Churches across Greece are packed from 11pm onwards for the
service and the lighting of the Holy Flame at midnight.
Many tavernas are open after the midnight service. The 40-day fast ends at
midnight today so meat is back on the menu and it's becoming very popular to
celebrate the Anastasi and the start of Easter at a taverna or 'kentro' with live
music.

Shops close at around 2pm and supermarkets around 5pm today.

Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Paska) April 15th 2012
Easter Sunday tradition is the roasting of lamb outside on a spit; family and
friends usually get together for a big party with plenty of food, wine, music, and
dancing.

If friends or neighbours are hosting an Easter party outside you'll likely be hailed
for a celebratory drink and 'meze' with them if you happen to pass by their
house - the more the merrier! If you are formally invited beforehand it is not
expected that you take anything with you, but taking along 'glyka' - cakes or
biscuits - will always be appreciated.

Shops and supermarkets are closed today.
Tavernas are usually open.

Easter Monday - April 16th 2012
Bank Holiday

Shops and supermarkets remain closed.
Tavernas open.

Kali Anastasi!
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