Easter has already passed with us this year and the Greek Easter is yet to come. But that’s not the only difference. Nowadays Easter for us means mostly a day off, and dinners with the family, but for Greeks it is, the most important feast of the year. How Greek Easter is celebrated and why it is (usually) later than our Easter, I’ll tell you today.

The difference is actually already in the religion. In the Netherlands we celebrate Catholic Easter while in Greece Orthodox Easter is celebrated. Two different religions and therefore it is celebrated slightly differently. Both holidays are always on the first Sunday after the full moon, after the beginning of Spring. However, both religions use a different calendar count. For Catholic Easter uses the Gregorian calendar in for Orthodox Easter the Julian calendar is used.

Fasting

Greek traditions actually begin 40 days before Easter. Greeks actually fast for a period of 40 days prior to Easter Day. This fast is also known as Sarakosti. During the period, people do not eat dairy products, eggs, meat or fish (I understand that shellfish and squid are allowed). Nowadays not everyone adheres strictly to this tradition, especially in the cities, but in many (small) villages it still happens. In the Great Week, the week before Easter, most people did fast strictly.

The Big week

A week before Easter the big week starts. It starts on Sunday with Palm Sunday and then you have Big Monday, Big Tuesday, etc. On the Saturday before Easter is Silent Saturday. Each day has a special meaning and church masses are held every night. Great Friday (with us Good Friday) is the day of mourning, but on Silent Saturday, when Christ resurrects there is a big celebration. there is a church service where the church bells ring lavishly and there are fireworks.

During this week, all preparations are also made. Houses are cleaned, painting is done and streets, houses and churches are decorated. The famous dish Tsoureki (Easter bread) is also made. Houses are cleaned, painting is done and streets, houses and churches are decorated. The famous dish Tsoureki (Easter bread) is also made. Easter Day itself is mainly devoted to eating and drinking with the whole family. Being together is really very important, and once again there is a big celebration. Important during the feast are the red painted eggs, Magiritsa (a soup of vegetables and intestines) and, of course, the lamb on the spit.