Has Anyone Visited During Orthodox Easter?
Jun 15th, 2000, 04:19 AM
#2
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It's been many years--21 now--but I was in Athens during Easter. When I planned the trip--the first leg of a European tour--I hadn't realized that I would be there then. It was very interesting, and I'm glad I experienced it. <BR> <BR>The week leading up to Easter, it was nearly impossible to travel out of Athens--everyone goes home to their village of origin. I wanted to go overnight to a nearby island, but was unable to get a reservation on any kind of transport. I ended up taking a day trip to Aegina. <BR> <BR>On Good Friday, I stopped into a church to see part of the service, which was very interesting. These days, I would probably attend the entire thing, as I'm more curious about such matters now than when I was in my twenties. What I do remember is that walking around in Athens, I saw little mechanical chicks for sale everywhere. <BR> <BR>On Easter Eve, there was a parade through the part of Athens I was in--I loved seeing the nuns with their dramatic headgear. Then, at midnight, fireworks and celebrations as the Lenten fasting came to an end. Easter Day is full of revelry and lots of drinking. <BR> <BR>I was staying with two Americans who were students in Athens, so I got to be a little more involved in things, I think, than the average tourist. All the students at the school--the American School for Classical Studies--got together with others for a lamb roast on Easter day. Much retsina and ouzo was imbibed. <BR> <BR>The celebratory aspects were much more pronounced than in the states. It seemed less a religious holiday than here--more like the 4th of July. A wonderful experience.
Jun 15th, 2000, 04:31 AM
#3
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One of my enduring memories of Greece is of being awakened at midnight by the sound of fireworks, going to the window of my hotel, and witnessing a miles-long candlelight procession up Lycabettus Hill to the small Orthodox church at its peak. <BR> <BR>Everywhere you go there are pomegranate-red Easter eggs, and lamb, lamb, and more lamb.
Jun 15th, 2000, 05:10 AM
#4
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we were on samos a couple of years ago during greek easter. went to midnight service at the gk church, service later moved outside where the fireworks began. tradition is that they are scaring off devils. next morning there was a parade down the main street led by the metropolitan of samos. later, after an outdoor service on the town square, you could file past and shake his hand and receive a gift of food. the gifts were all boiled eggs dyed red. red boiled eggs were everywhere in the stores that weeekend. we finished up with a wonderful lunch in an outdoor restaurant sitting under a grape arbor.
Jul 14th, 2000, 01:18 PM
#5
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Greece during Greek Easter is my very favorite time to be in the country. (FYI, in 2001 Roman Easter and Greek Orthodox Easter will be on the same day). The weather is beautiful at that time of year -- although it's a little too cool for swimming, it is perfect for travelling around the country. On the islands, the wildflowers are gloriously in bloom and the land is very green (unlike most of the year when it is dry brown). Greek Easter celebration is a week long event, and in the villages at least, the events of Easter week during Christ's time are reenacted, complete with the village women decorating Christ's bier with flowers, and carrying it around the village. If you go to Greece at Easter time, by all means go to an island village, preferably a small one, and participate in the religious services. Even if you are not religious, the services are very moving, and if you are a Christian (even if not Greek Orthodox), deeply meaningful. The midnight service starting on Saturday night is as others have described, but so wonderful that I am not a good enough writer to describe. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
