EASTER in GREECE

Georgia KalantziTeacher of English

2nd Gymnassio N. Filadelfias

Easter is called

• Πάσχα- pascha

• Ανάσταση-Anastassi

• Λαμπρή-Lambri

ANASTASSI-RESURRECTIONmeans:

the revival from the dead - Jesus Christthe revival of nature – Springthe revival of the Greek Nation - the Greek

Revolution of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821

Christ’s ResurrectionDuring Holy week church services remind of Christ’s suffering,• Palm Sunday: His triumphal re-entrance into Jerusalem. •Maundy Thursday: the Last Supper, the trial, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.•Good Friday: the deposition from the cross, Epitaphios-representing Christ’s Tomb.

Crucifixion by El Greco

Epitaphios

Christ’s ResurrectionChristos Anesti

• Holy Saturday: the proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ.

• Easter : a day of hope, joy, love, forgiveness.

wishesΚαλό Πάσχα - Kalo

PaschaΚαλή ανάσταση - Kali

AnastassiΧριστός Ανέστη –

christos AnestiΧρόνια Πολλά -

chronia polla

Nature- SpringSpring refers to the season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and

regrowth.

The Revolution ofIndependence

In 1821 Greeks struggled against the Ottoman Empire for:•Liberty•Independence•Justice•Autonomous country

‘A n ho ur 's tim e o f liv ing fr e e , is b e tte r than fo r ty ye a r s o f p r is o n and s la v e r y .’ R iga s F er a ios

‘The massacre of Chios’ by E.Delacroix ‘After the destruction of Psara’ by

N.Gyzis

Dionysios Solomosthe poet of Independence

πΗ ημέρα της Λαμ ρής

Καθαρώτατον ήλιο επρομηνούσεΤης αυγής το δροσάτο ύστερο αστέρι,Σύγνεφο, καταχνιά, δεν απερνούσεΤ’ ουρανού σε κανένα από τα μέρη∙Και από ’κει κινημένο αργοφυσούσεΤόσο γλυκό στο πρόσωπο τ’ αέρι,Που λες και λέει μες στης καρδιάς τα φύλλα:Γλυκειά η ζωή κι ο θάνατος μαυρίλα.

Trembling with dew, the last star before the dawnannounced a radiant sun.No trace either of clouds or mist in the endless sky.The breath of the breezewas so soft to the facethat it seemed to whisper to the petals of my heart,life is sweet and death is blackness.

Α. Παπαδιαμάντης:Εξοχική Λαμπρή «Παιδικαί Αναμνήσεις»

A. Papadiamandis: A Village Easter ‘Memories of Childhood ’ Η πούλια ήτο ήδη υψηλά, “τέσσαρες ώρες να φέξη” , και ο μπάρμπ’- Αναγνώστης, αφού εξύπνισε τον ιερέα, κατασκευάσας πρόχειρον σήμαντρον εκ στερεού ξύλου καρυάς και πλήκτρον, περιήρχετο τα Καλύβια, θορυβωδώς, κρούων, όπως εξεγείρη τους χωρικούς.    Εισήλθον εις το μικρόν εξωκκλήσιον του Αγ. Δημητρίου. Εις μετά τον άλλον προσήρχοντο οι χωρικοί με τας χωρικάς των και με τα καλά των ενδύματα.    Ο ιερεύς έβαλεν ευλογητόν.    Ο μπάρμπ’- Αναγνώστης ήρχισε να τα λέγη όλα απ’ έξω, την προκαταρκτικήν προσευχήν και τον Κανόνα, το “Κύματι θαλάσσης...” .    Ο παπα-Κυριάκος προέκυψεν εις τα βημόθυρα, ψάλλων το “Δεύτε λάβετε φως” .    Ήναψαν τας λαμπάδας κι εξήλθον όλοι εις το ύπαιθρον ν’ ακούσωσι την Ανάστασιν. Γλυκείαν και κατανυκτικήν Ανάστασιν, εν μέσω των ανθούντων δένδρων, υπό ελαφράς αύρας σειομένων ευωδών θάμνων, και των λευκών ανθέων της αγραμπελιάς, “neige odorante du printemps” .    Ψαλέντος του “Χριστός ανέστη” , εισήλθον πάντες εις τον ναόν. Θα ήσαν το πολύ εβδομήκοντα άνθρωποι, άνδρες, γυναίκες και παίδες.

It was four hours before dawn, and the Evening Star was already high in the night sky. Uncle Anagnostis woke the priest, and before they entered the little church of St Demetrius he improvized a bell out of a solid piece of walnut wood and a stick, and walked through the village, banging noisily to wake the sleeping inhabitants.

One after another the villagers arrived, accompanied by their wives. All were dressed in their best clothes.

The priest gave the blessing. Uncle Anagnostis began to recite from memory,

beginning with the preliminary prayer and the canon, ‘On the Wave of the Sea’ .

Father Kyriakos appeared at the sanctuary doors, chanting ‘Come, receive the Light’ .

When they had all lit their candles, they filed out into the open air to hear the Resurrection gospel. A sweet, contemplative Resurrection, amid the blossoming trees, the fragrant bushes swaying in a gentle breeze, and the white flowers of the wild clematis, 'neige odorante du printemps'.

They sang ‘Christ is risen’ , and all went back into the church. Men, women and children: no more than seventy souls, all told.

Translated by Andrew Watson

«Γιέ μου, σπλάχνο των σπλάχνων μου, καρδούλα της καρδιάς μου,πουλάκι της φτωχιάς αυλής, ανθέ της ερημιάς μου,πώς κλείσαν τα ματάκια σου και δε θωρείς που κλαίωκαι δε σαλεύεις, δε γρικάς τα που πικρά σου λέω;Γιόκα μου, εσύ που γιάτρευες κάθε παράπονό μου,Που μάντευες τι πέρναγα κάτου απ' το τσίνορό μου,τώρα δε με παρηγοράς και δε μου βγάζεις άχνακαι δε μαντεύεις τις πληγές που τρώνε μου τα σπλάχνα;

Yiannis Ritsos-20th century poet- inspired by mother’s lament over her dead son wrote ‘Epitaphios’

Easter inSchool subjects

Easter is incorporated in subjects as:• English language• Greek literature• Art• Music• Religious Education

In English coursesIt is taught through: puzzles, crosswords,

word mazes…Projects…Speaking activities…Writing activities…

Task 2 - Project: The Meaning of Easter.

A. Work in groups of four: each of you will ask three people what they think Easter means to them. Decide what kinds of questions you will ask these people to find out about the meaning of Easter.

B. Report back to your group what you have found about the meaning of Easter to the people you have asked.

C. Put your findings together and then, with the other students in your group, prepare an article with the title ‘The Meaning of Easter in Modern Greece'.

D. Present your article to the class.

Easter gastronomyTypical dishes are:Magiritsa (soup with lamb

offal)Roasted lambEaster eggs Easter cookiesTsoureki (sweet bread)

Greek Easter Cookies - Koulourakia lambriatika

Greek Easter Cookies - Koulourakia lambriatika - Recipe

1/2 cup sweet butter at room temperature1/2 cup white sugar1 egg1/4 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, or brandy3 cups flour1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking powder1 egg yolk

Preheat the oven to 180 C. degrees.

In a bowl, cream the butter and add the sugar.  Beat until creamy.  Add the egg, cream and orange liqueur and beat the mixture for 5 minutes.

In another bowl sift together the flour, salt and baking powder and blend into the butter mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.

Form the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and shape into twists. Form the dough into ropes about  6 inches long; fold each strip in half and twist to form a coil; seal the ends by moistening them with a drop of water and pressing together to form a ring; Brush the twists with egg yolk . Place on cookie sheets and bake for 30 minutes, or until they turn a light golden colour.