3 Popular Celebrations in Greece....

                                                          1.Easter

Easter is the most important festival of the Greek Orthodox Church. It starts 7 weeks before Easter Sunday and comes to its peak the Holy Week. This is when Services are held every evening in the churches. On Good Friday, a special celebration takes place when all the flowered tombs of the Christ (named Epitaphios) are gathered at the squares and make the tour of the towns.

The peak of the Easter is on Good Saturday at midnight when pilgrims go to the church and get the Holy Light. At midnight exactly, the priest appears holding a lighted torch and shares the Holy Flame on the candles of near worshippers. Then, the worshippers share at their turn the Holy Light with their close neighbors until the entire church and the courtyard get it. It is a beautiful spectacle.

Then, fireworks explode in the streets around the Church. Worshippers then bring the burning candles home and make with the black smoke of the candle the sign of a cross above their door. This custom is supposed to bring good fortune upon the house.

After midnight, families and friends eat "magiritsa", a soup made from lamb tripe, rice, dill, and lemon. The rest of the lamb is grilled on Sunday morning for lunch, accompanied by wines and dances.

This festival is of great importance in all the regions of Greece but some places, such as the Greek islands of Corfu island and Chios island, are very famous for their Easter celebrations. In some towns, the Burning of Judas takes place on Easter Sunday in the evening.

                                                               

                                                    2.December 25th, Christmas

The feast is of great importance, as it is celebrating the birth of Christ. In the past, people used to decorate wooden boats for Christmas, honoring the nautical tradition of Greece, but today people follow western traditions and decorate Christmas trees. On December 24th, children traditionally sing Christmas carols (kalanda) from door to door.

                                                 3.February-March, The Carnival

The Carnival is called "Apokries" in Greek and it is expressed by three weeks of feasting and dancing. The Carnival takes place three weeks before Lent Monday. Important Carnival Parades take place in Patra, Xanthi, Corfu island and Rethymno with wonderful parties. The exact dates of the Carnival vary, depending on Easter. The Carnival finishes 7 weeks before Easter.

                                                   OOF! TOO MUCH WRITING, RIGHT?

                                😎THANKS FOR READING THIS FOR NO REASON!!!😎

   (Our beautiful country....)