Celebration

Easter in Greece is a huge deal. It's the biggest religious celebration we have! Greeks call it "Pascha" and it's all about life winning over death. The whole thing is deeply rooted in our Orthodox traditions.

We start getting ready weeks before, lots of people give up certain foods during Lent. Holy Week is when things really kick into high gear, especially from Thursday through Sunday. That's when all the cool rituals happen that blend our religious beliefs with colorful cultural stuff.

One tradition everyone knows about is our red eggs. We dye them on Holy Thursday to symbolize Christ's blood and rebirth. Later, we play this fun game called "tsougrisma" where you try to crack someone else's egg without breaking your own, it gets competitive in my family!

Good Friday is super somber though. Most of us attend the service honoring Christ's crucifixion, and we carry the "Epitaphios" basically a decorated representation of Christ's tomb through the streets in these beautiful candlelit processions. It's quite moving, honestly.

Saturday night is when things get emotional. We all gather at church with candles, waiting for the "Holy Light" to be shared. Then, right before midnight, the priest shouts "Christos Anesti!", Christ is Risen! And the sky explodes with fireworks! Everyone's kissing each other's cheeks and sharing happy wishes. After that, we head home starving to break our fast with "magiritsa" - this special soup made from lamb liver lettuce and herbs.

Sunday is just pure celebration! Lambs roasting on spits everywhere, music blasting, and people dancing traditional dances like the Kalamatianos. It's all about family, laughing together, and keeping these ancient customs alive. Greek Easter isn't just religious, it's this powerful symbol of hope and community that brings us all together. My grandma would say it's the heart of who we are!