Sixty years ago, the French comic book hero Tin Tin, beloved by children around the world, celebrated Greek Easter alongside famous Greek actors. One of the highlights of his career was when he established his own theater company alongside his wife, Voula Zoumboulaki, staging plays at the Athens Theater. Over the centuries, as the connection of the lit candle with baptism ceased to exist, and Christians were baptised all throughout the year and not only during Easter, the Orthodox Church kept only the second part of the symbolism of the lambada that brings light and hope into our world today. Toward the end of Holy Week, which is between Palm Sunday and Easter, the … (Yes, there is a tradition where the youngest attendee must eat a lamb’s eyeball for good luck.) Usually, the ladies of each town or village gather at the church early in the morning to decorate the Epitaph, a dome holding the sacred image of Jesus Christ, covered in flowers. The Greek form is simply a transliteration 8 and takes the form Pascha. On this day, bells… This segment of Rick Steves’ European Easter traces Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations. Since the date of Greek Orthodox Easter is based on a modified Julian calendar (while the Western world uses the Gregorian calendar), the festivities sometimes do not occur at the same time as other … Need to translate "easter" to Greek? In fact, Pascha, is considered the Feast of the Feasts. In Greece, Orthodox Easter is celebrated with an entire week of festivities – aptly titled The Holy Week – with Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday being celebrated as public holidays. On this day, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated at midnight, after the priest in every church proclaims, “Christ is Resurrected”, while the church bells are ringing loudly and happily, and fireworks are illuminating the night sky. In his long and successful career, Starenios acted in more than 40 movies, including the hit film “The 300 Spartans,” filmed in Greece released in 1962. Greek Easter Food Customs – Lamb and Goat on the Spit. He visited Greece in the film “Tin Tin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece,” in which actors Dimos Starenios and Dimitris Myrat portrayed Easter scenes based in a traditional Greek village. Scenes in the movie include shots of Tin Tin in the near-unrecognizable Plaka and Thisio areas of downtown Athens, which have changed so drastically since those days. Of course, the more people attend, the more food there will be. This special day sees the conclusion of the Passion of Christ with Christ’s burial. Greek Easter Bread. A video of some of the Easter scenes filmed in a picturesque 1960s Greek village can be found below: Two Greek actors, Dimos Starenios and Dimitris Myrat, starred in the 1961 film. Throughout the nation, lambs are roasted on a spit or in the oven, as families gather together, eat, drink, sing and dance to traditional Greek music. The Holy Week or the Great Week. Tin Tin and Milou enjoying their Greek Easter lamb in a Greek village. Traditionally, magiritsa is eaten to break the fast of the Greek Great Lent, which starts 40 days before Easter and symbolises the return to life after the Resurrection of Jesus. Between red eggs, fireworks and different dates Greek Easter or 'Pascha' is a distinctly different affair than the Easter many Australians are accustomed to. The phrase "Christos Anesti" (Greek for "Christ is Risen") is also the title of a traditional Orthodox Easter hymn sung during Easter services in celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. This custom can also be seen in many other Christian countries such as Spain and Italy. On Easter Sunday, many Grecians will also greet others with " Christos anesti " (Christ is risen), and other Grecians will then respond " Alithos anesti" (truly, He has risen), which is similar to "He is risen, indeed." The names differ depending on languages, but most are derived from Greek and Latin "pascha". Firstly, it represented the new light of Christ that would enlighten the soul of those that were being baptised on the night of the Resurrection or on Easter Sunday. He visited Greece in the film “Tin Tin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece,” in which actors Dimos Starenios and Dimitris Myrat portrayed Easter scenes based in a traditional Greek village. It was filmed around Turkey and Greece, with filming taking Tin Tin to central Athens as well as a traditional Greek village, and the historic monasteries of the spectacular Meteora region. Greek Easter Sunday means eating Greek lamb, goat, kokoretsi, wine, tsoureki bread and cracking red eggs, while visiting family, friends, dancing etc. Over the years, however, it became so popular in Greece that most bakeries make it in different shapes and sizes all year round. He finds Milou next to a man roasting a lamb on a spit as is the tradition every Greek Easter. Although the chocolate eggs and bunnies are not a Greek tradition, they have become an integral part of the Greek Easter, with shops and grocery stores filled with them during Springtime. During Easter in Greece, travelers are likely to hear a few different greetings and phrases like "Happy Easter," in Greek it is "Kalo Pascha," which is written καλό Πάσχα. Orthodox Easter Sunday in Greece Many Orthodox churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, which often differs from the Gregorian calendar that is used by many western countries. Starenios played a slightly smaller role in Tin Tin’s Easter adventure, a character named Scoubidouvitch, who himself was  named after a popular French children’s craft “Scoubidou”. When in Greece… exchange Easter wishes like a Greek! We Greeks don’t do Easter until after Passover, because how can you have Easter BEFORE Passover. During this day, everywhere in Greece, people can hear church bells ringing slowly and melancholically with the most despondent tone. Easter wishes are a bit complicated and depend on whether they are exchanged before of after Jesus Resurrection. Easter Traditions in Greece. 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In the average Greeks wish Καλό Πάσχα! By John Smith. In fact, the egg has been an ancient symbol of life … Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email! The Greek tradition of red Easter eggs has deep religious significance In Greece, dying eggs red, symbolizing Christ’s blood, has held strong throughout the millennia as an Easter tradition. The live-action color film centers around Tin Tin’s search for gold after inheriting a boat named “The Golden Fleece.”. After the Anastasi or on Easter Sunday, families gather at their dinner table and do the “tsougrisma” of the eggs, a fun game for children and adults. The preparations and customs, including traditional foods and large feasts, remain an important part of modern Greek life. Greek Orthodox Easter, called Pascha, is by far the most important feast for the Greeks, celebrating the suffering and martyrdom of Jesus Christ as well as, his resurrection and the chance of rebirth for mankind, symbolized by the coming of spring. Kalo Pascha! Don’t miss the Holy Week’s highlights: As in the comics read around the world, Tin Tin is accompanied by his loyal dog, named Milou. Get ready to celebrate this Greek Easter Sunday with these locally sourced, traditional Greek Easter recipes! Meat lovers visiting Greece during Easter time, rejoice! Lamb is the most traditional Greek Easter food. There's also no Easter Bunny who brings baskets filled with goodies and cards. The roasted lamb is served in honor of Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed and rose again on Easter. People greet each other by saying “Christos Anesti”, as others answer with “Alithos Anesti” (Christ is Resurrected, He truly Resurrected). ΠΑΣΧΑ … After the long period of Lent, it’s time for Greeks to go back to one of the country’s favourite foods – meat. Even though it is a “controversial” dish, with many loving it and others disliking it, it is always linked to Easter holidays. Greece is slowly but surely coming closer to the great feast of Greek Orthodox Easter, or Pascha — a religious occasion celebrated here with more gusto than in many other Western Christian countries. This custom dates back to the early Christian period and had two main symbolisms. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are a symbol of new life. Credit: Screenshot from YouTube/Le Projectionniste. April 1, 2021. The very first eggs were made from solid chocolate wrapped in plain paper, but later, with the discovery of another method of processing chocolate, European confectioners managed to shape their eggs into eggshells and put candies or little surprises inside them. As the greatest feast of Orthodoxy, Easter is celebrated in a unique way in every corner of Greece, with century-old local traditions being revived every year all across the country. In the film, Starenios, as Scoubidouvitch helps Tin Tin solve the mystery surrounding the gold on the boat. Forms and Transliterations. Photos by TheToc except where noted otherwise. Well you're in luck, because here they come. The day of Good Friday is one of the most important, but also saddest days of all Christianity. The choice of the lamb, a pure and innocent animal, is supposed to represent Christ, the Holy Lamb of God, while people’s celebrations on Easter Sunday symbolise the happiness that follows the Resurrection, love, faith and family. The film is a charming snapshot of life in Greece in the 1960s, offering up wonderful scenes of an Athens that has changed a great deal over the decades. Despite any explanation that “Easter” is derived from … Easter traditions aren't nearly as commercially-saturated in the Eastern world as they are in the West. Everyone picks an egg and attempts to crack other people’s eggs by hitting one egg on top of another. The lambada surely brings back special childhood memories, associated with our beloved godparents. In Greece, Easter Sunday is also a widely celebrated occasion. Thayer's Greek Lexicon. Tsoureki, Traditonal. Easter in Greece is synonymous not only to the numerous religious celebrations and festivities, but also to many other rituals and customs, traditional dishes and recipes, sweet treats, colourful flowers and aromas, crafts, music, dance and more. “Easter” is tainted by residual pagan etymology. John Cadbury, the founder of the famous British Cadbury chocolate, created the first chocolate egg in 1875, and since then chocolate eggs and bunnies have conquered Europe’s Easter celebrations. In order for “Greek Easter” to be celebrated the same week as “American Easter,” Passover has to have been celebrated already. Nothing screams Greek Easter more than skewered lamb. from Palm Sunday until Good Wednesday or Good Thursday. Secondly, the candle was the symbol of the light that Lord Jesus Christ brought into the world, by overcoming death and consequently the darkness with His Resurrection. Credit: Screenshot from YouTube/Deniz Asad. The modern English term Easter developed from the Old English word Ēastre or Ēostre (Old English pronunciation: [ˈæːɑstre, ˈeːostre]), which itself developed prior to 899, originally referring to the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Ēostre. And celebrating Greek Easter in Santorini is one of the best things to do while on the island.. Easter, also called Pascha (Aramaic, Greek, Latin) or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. Easter, which in Greek is called “Pascha”, commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is along with his Nativity and The Dormition of the Mother of God one of the three Great Feasts for the Eastern Orthodoxy. Myrat, who was born in Athens in 1908, had a long and illustrious acting career before passing away in 1991. In fact, the egg has been an ancient symbol of life and death in many different cultures and religions. According to EuroNews, more than 90 million chocolate Easter eggs are produced every year. Greece is probably the easiest place to always find plenty of vegetable dishes. In case you are a vegetarian, do not worry! see HEBREW pecach. Here's how you say it. Myrat portrayed a businessman named Karabine, who follows Tin Tin throughout the film in an attempt to obtain the gold he has inherited on the ship. English and German stand apart in their use of Easter ( Ostern) to refer to the celebration of the Resurrection. That's why I have put together a list of my favorite traditional Greek Easter recipes for you to enjoy and take the stress out of the festive preparations! Greek Orthodox Easter 2021. Greek Easter food is intrinsically tied to … In 325 A.D., the Council of Nicaea, which agreed upon the basic principles of Christianity, established a formula for the date of Easter as the Sunday following the paschal full moon, which is the full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox. Even though this time again Easter will be different from what we were used to in the past, because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there are still some Easter “habits” and traditions that families can safely enjoy at home and keep the Easter spirit alive. Milou, of course, cannot be faulted for following the delicious scent of Greek delicacies such as this! In the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most sacred observance. Lambs are roasted on a spit and the provision of wine is abundant. The most popular color? The Epitaph depicts the burial of the Son of God, and is paraded all throughout towns and cities, with a mass of people following behind with lightened up lambada candles, while singing hymns and chants. Father Constantine Newman of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Concord started the Easter weekend by carrying a thurible during the Apokathelosis (Decent of … In practice, that means that Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls on or after March 21. The most common greek easter material is metal. You guessed it: gold. Greek Easter traditions don't include chocolate or eggs dyed in pastel colors to symbolize spring. The day of Anastasi is the biggest day of the Orthodox Easter, with churches all across the country filled with people and their lambada candles lit with the Holy Light. The Easter tsoureki is particularly special though because it is braided with three different pieces of dough, which represent the Holy Trinity, while a red baked egg is placed in the middle. A trailer for the Tin Tin film is shown below: See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Unlike most European nations, which will celebrate on April 4, Greece will adhere to the date … The most popular Easter tradition in Greece is the boiling and painting of eggs with red colour. The lambada is a candle – can be of any colour but is usually white – and is decorated with crafts, accessories and all sort of designs, for both kids and adults. Easter was thus fixed by these rules, but another difficulty arose when the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1582, the difference between it and the Julian being then 10 days. The tsoureki is type of soft and puffy sweet bread or brioche that was originally made only during Easter time. In Orthodoxy, eggs are painted red because they symbolise the blood and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, after all. Virtually all languages refer to Easter as either a transliterated form of pascha or use resurrection in the name. but also enjoying the beautiful nature and wildflowers everywhere. Easter time, from the carnivals that come before the Lenten fast through Holy Week and the celebrations of Easter, is a special season in Greece. There are 9264 greek easter for sale on Etsy, and they cost $20.34 on average. The most popular Easter tradition in Greece is the boiling and painting of eggs with red colour. Tin Tin getting into a car in Thisio, Athens. Whoever gets their egg cracked loses the game, while the person with no cracks on their egg, wins and is said to receive good luck all year round. The Epitaphios. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about greek easter? Enjoy watching the fascinating religious traditions and celebrations held in Corfu town. Happy Easter! The Orthodox and Catholic Easter are usually set on different dates. The magiritsa is a type of soup made of lamb offal – in some parts of Greece it includes vegetables or rice – and it is served right after the Anastasi, as people return home from their local church. Therefore the Orthodox Easter period often occurs later than the Easter period that falls around the time of … Greek Easter revolves around food, whether you’re making it, eating it, playing with it, or being chased with it. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. In Greek, it’s the “Great Week”: Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα, which starts on … Starenios was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1909 and died in Athens in 1983. The date of Easter here is calculated using a modified Julian calendar versus the Gregorian calendar observed by the Christians and countries in the west. Form of pascha. The film is a charming snapshot of life in Greece in the 1960s, offering up wonderful scenes of an Athens that has changed a great deal over the decades. Easter celebrations are exciting all over Greece; some of the most famous destinations to celebrate Easter are Corfu, Patmos, Chios and Leonidio. 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