Happy Easter to all the Christian world that is not Orthodox. This Sunday here
on Paros is Palm Sunday tonight at midnight Great Week starts.
To
describe the highlights of a Greek Easter I will actually start at the end, the
day itself. The church services are pretty much routine with most people at home
preparing the roast lamb and other long denied foods for the large family
gathering that will last the whole day and night—with occasional bursts of
fireworks. The day starts just after midnight with eating mageritsa, a
soup made with sheep guts. I have eaten it once and that will last me for a few
years until my memory goes.
The other highlight of the day that we see
evidence of year around is the burnt cross above every doorway, home and
business alike. This is done with a candle that is brought back from the major
Saturday night service in which all lights are extinguished than one holy candle
is used to start the progressive lighting of everyone’s candles—an impressive
and meaningful ceremony. Afterwards the common greeting is Christos
anesti, Christ is risen, and the response, Alithos anesti, Indeed, he
has risen.
There is much going on all day on Good Friday as the intensity
has built each day of Great Week. There are services all day with a great many
people (just as in other countries some Christians only make it to church one
day a year) making the rounds of candle lighting and kissing the icons. The
churches are still dressed for mourning but with the addition of huge amounts of
fresh flowers. Here on Paros the three main churches in Parikia start their
processions at about the same time then end all together at the town centre, the
windmill, at about midnight. Again an impressive occasion as long as it is not
too windy at the time. Not to be outdone the villages of Marpissa, Marmara and
Prodomos hold their own elaborate processions and tableaux complete with
costumes, donkeys and men tied to crosses.
The other notable part of
Easter, of course, is the Lenten fasting for several weeks leading up to the
final day. The rules are quite complicated and many young people today don’t
know them they just know there are some traditional foods that they only get
during this season. The devout Orthodox are not allowed meat, animal products
(eggs, cheese, milk), fish, oil, and alcohol. Also, by the way, no sex so as to
better commune with God. You can see why some traditions are dying out. Some of
the foods that are allowed are olives, rice, pickled vegetables, fruits, nuts,
honey, and non-fish seafood such as octopus, which is quite plentiful
here.
I have mentioned elsewhere how delicious the eggs taste here, but
they lack something in originality as Easter Eggs. That is Greek Easter eggs are
always red, that’s all, always red. Of course there is a tradition associated
with this dating back to Mary and Christ. All I know is that the predominant
symbol for Easter is a red egg you see them everywhere.
I will conclude
with a few words about the differing dates for Easter. The why is best left to
church theologians and academic historians who will never agree on an answer, I
am sure. It is interesting, however, that after the Christian churches split in
AD1054 they celebrated Easter on the same date for about 500 years until the
Catholics adopted the Gregorian Calendar. For the most complete treatise and
numerous algorithms on this see BR> Or just use this
chart
WESTERN -- ORTHODOX
~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
23 April
2000 -- 30 April 2000
15 April 2001 -- 15 April 2001
31 March 2002
-- 5 May 2002
20 April 2003 -- 27 April 2003
11 April 2004 -- 11
April 2004
27 March 2005 -- 1 May 2005
16 April 2006 -- 23 April
2006
8 April 2007 -- 8 April 2007
23 March 2008 -- 27 April
2008
12 April 2009 -- 19 April 2009
Now you can see why we spend a
good deal of time comparing and contrasting our life on a Greek isle to what we
know elsewhere.
Many of my facts come from an article by Katherine Clark
that appeared in Paros Life, April 2006
Michael & Karin Shepherd left their home, business and family in Oregon, USA to relocate to a small village in West Cork, Ireland.
After operating a small grocery and living above it for four years they moved on to the sunny Greek island of Paros and the hospitality business.
Now they share their Greek island experience by offering accommodation and information including maps and photos. Their ParosParadise web site provides content and links for Paros, the Cyclades, Greece and the world of living abroad. They still give advice about Ireland itineraries as well.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
