On Easter Saturday, even those who do not usually go to church attend a special service which starts just before midnight. Celebrants take candles, often quite elaborately decorated. The lights of the church are dimmed just before midnight symbolising Christ's death. The priest then brings out the holy flame and passes it to the congregation who light their candles. Fireworks, firecrackers and dynamite explode to symbolically scare away evil spirits. The Lenten fast is broken by the consumption of of Mayeritsa, the traditional soup made from offal from the Paschal lamb, lemons, egg and rice, flavoured with dill. Red eggs are cracked for luck. Those who succeed in getting their Easter candles home alight use the flame to make the Sign of the Cross on the lintel over the front door to ensure luck for the year.

Easter Sunday is a day of feasting. In some parts of Greece lamb is stuffed with rice and spinach and is roasted in the wood oven, but on Symi it is usually spit-roasted with every person present taking a turn. Traditional songs are sung. In the afternoon on Easter Sunday there is a procession through the harbour in which an effigy of Judas is carried. This is burned on the Town Hall square with fireworks, fire-crackers and dancing. The greeting is 'Christos anesti' (Christ is risen), to which the response is 'Alithos anesti' (Truly He is risen).

For earlier April  photos & Photo Diaries back to April 2000
PLEASE CLICK HERE>>

'YOUR INTERNET GUIDE TO SYMI'  
www.SymiVisitor.com    

HOME»