EASTER IN GREECE2NT PRIMARY OF IALISOS

Greek Easter See What Easter in Greece isLikeThe celebration of Greek Orthodox Easter is filled with rich and colorful Easter traditions, including the decorating of the epitaphios, building bonfires, shooting off fireworks at midnight, and enjoying a feast of lamb.

Images of Easter inGreece

St. Tito's church is in the heart of Heraklion.

Everyone comes to the church to help decorate the "epitaphios" or "Bier of Christ". Often, the volunteers stay almost all night.

The finished decorations are placed on the wooden epitaphios, which will be carried through the streets in a grandprocession.

Chandelier in theCathedral

Brilliant chandeliers make the cavernous interior of the cathedral bright as day.

Lighting Candles

Everyone lights a candle. Nearby, an attendant allows them to burn for a few moments, then whisks them away to make room for more.

A family prepares for tonight's bonfire

Judas effigy andscaffolding

Look closely - in the center of the picture is the gallows erected for the Judas effigy, which will be burned at midnight.

Burning the JudasEffigy

At the same instant the sacred bonfire is lit, the fire to burn the hanging effigy of Judas also erupts.

Greek EasterFireworks

Greek Easter fireworks erupt at midnight to celebrate the resurrection of Christ

Carrying home theflame

Candles are lit from the sacred bonfire and carefully carried back home. The fire is believed to protect the household for the coming year, a vestige of ancient practices.

EASTER IN GREECE

Easter Recipes "Lamb" (or goat on the islands) is the traditional Easter meat served throughout Greece, although how its cooked varies from region to region. Spit-roast lamb, which originated in Roumeli, is now the prevalent tradition, but many areas preserve their distinctive way of preparing the Easter dish. On many islandsincluding Andros, Samos, Naxos, and Rhodeslamb is stuffed with rice and herbs, then baked in the oven.

Easter Bread

The rich, festive breads we enjoy in early spring are steeped in history, folklore, and symbolism. Originally baked as a tribute to the end of winter's sparse fare and later associated with the celebrations that followed periods of religious fasting, Easter's light, yeast-risen loaves are abundantly laden with luxurious ingredients, such as cheese, almonds, candied citrus peel, and precious spices like cinnamon and saffron. The approach to holiday bread baking is one that sanctions us to lavish the loaves with extra care. Easter breads are customarily decorated with colored eggs, drizzled with icing, studded with bits of candied and dried fruit, divided into ropes of dough and elaborately braided into rounds, or stuffed with rich fillings. While the ancient meanings surrounding the ingredients and design of these celebratory breads are based on Easter and springtime traditions, the magnificent loaves that result, with their fine crumb and sweet flavor, are treats that can be savored throughout the year.

Tsoureki- koulouriaThere are many other delicacies included in the Paschal feast depending on the region of Greece. Included in these are cheese pittes, regional fresh cheeses and yogurt served with honey.he sweets include special tsoureki and of course, the koulouria tis Lambris (Paschal cookies).

XRISTOS ANESTIFollowing 40 days of fasting, the traditional Pascha meal is abanquet of meat, eggs and other long - forbidden animal products. Cheese, eggs, and richly scented breads play an important part on the table, but the meal is always centered around meat.On Easter Sunday celebration begins early in the morning withthe cracking of red eggs and an outdoor feast of roast lamb followed by dancing.

The Easter table reflects the culinary differences around Greece. Recipes have evolved based on the lie of the land, on what is available place by place, and on the tastes and origins of local populations. "Mageiritsa" made almost universally from any variety of chopped, sauteed innards, herbs and lettuce, and bound with avgolemono, the country's well-known egg-and-lemon sauce-is not the dish of choice with which to break the fast.

One of the nicest Greek customs is the use of "red eggs" for the Easter celebration Greeks mainly color eggs red (scarlet) to signify the blood of Christ. They use hard-boiled eggs, painted red on Holy Thursday. People rap their eggs against their friends' eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky.

Easter eggs from different countries

Happy Easter in 64 languages!!!!Afrikaans Gesende PaasfeesAlbanian Gzuar PashktArabic Aromanian Ti mults-anji Pashtili! Hristolu-nye! - Dealihea c-nye!Basque Ondo izan Bazko garaianBreton Pask Seder

Bulgarian (estit Velikden)Chinese(Cantonese) (Fuhkwuhtjit faailohk)Chinese(Mandarin) (fhuji kuil)Catalan Bona PasquaCornish Pask LowenCroatian Sretan Uskrs

Czech Vesel VelikonoceDanish God pskeDutch Vrolijk Pasen, Zalige paasdagen, Zalig PasenEsperanto Felian PaskonEstonian Hid lihavttephiFinnish Hyv psiistFrench Joyeuses Pques Gaelic(Irish) Cisc Shona Dhuit/Dhaoibh, Beannachta na CscaGaelic(Manx) Caisht sonney dhytGaelic(Scottish) A' Chisg sonaGalician Boas PascuasGeorgian (gilocav(t) adgomas) (kriste adga)

German Frohe Ostern German (Swiss) schni OschtereGreek (Kal Pskha)Hebrew (chag pascha same'ach) Hindi (ubh sar)Hungarian Kellemes Hsvti nnepeketIcelandic Gleilega pska

Italian Buona PasquaIndonesian Selamat PaskahJapanese (sut omedet)Jrriais Jouaiyeux PquesKorean (haengpoghan puhwarchri toesikir)Latin Prospera Pascha sit

Latvian Priecgas LieldienasLithuanian Su ventom VelykomMaltese L-Gid it-tajjebMarathi (ubh sar)Norwegian God pskePersian

Polish Wesoych wit Wielkanocnych Portuguese Boa Pscoa, Pscoa Feliz, Feliz Pscoa Punjabi (sar khuyvl hove)Romanian Pate fericit Russian (S prazdinkom PasxiScots Happy Whissunday

Serbian (Srean Yskrs)Sicilian Bona PasquaSlovak Milostipln preitie Vekononch sviatkovSlovenian Vesele velikonone praznikeSpanish Felices Pascuas Swahili Heri kwa sikukuu ya Pasaka

Swedish Glad PskTagalog Maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhayThai (Suk-snt-wn s-toer)Tigrinya (rHus bal fesika (ygberelka))

Ukrainian (Z Velykodnimy svjatamy)Volapk Lesustanazli yofikWelsh Pasg Hapus Yoruba Eku odun ajinde

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!2NT PRIMARY OF IALISOSGREECERHODES 2010