I don't know where the time goes (two weeks has just disappeared). Anyway, just a little note to let you know that we are all alive and well. As Dale has been away, I haven’t done any sightseeing; instead, I have been catching up on all the chores I don’t get around to when he is home.
This weekend however seems to be something to write about. It is the Orthodox Easter, and our little village has many activities planned to celebrate. Apparently Easter is a much bigger deal here than Christmas. Here is a little excerpt from our local paper:
Easter is never on the same date each year, as it is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon of the spring equinox, which this year falls on the 27th of April. It is tradition that everything has to look clean and new for Easter, so the week before, housewives will spring clean, pain and whitewash walls (it is still a patriarchal society).
The Holy Week – Palm Sunday – 20th of April. A procession is held around the church with an icon of Christ which is to commemorate his entry into Jerusalem. You will notice that a lot of church doors will be decorated with palm leaves. People will take olive leaves to church which will be left there for 40 days. They will then be taken home and used for burning in the “kapnistiri” (a small burner) which helps to keep the evil eye away.
Monday – Most people will begin a very strict fasting and will go to church mass every evening.
Tuesday – This day devoted to scripture reading and going to church.
Wednesday – A day of anointing the faithful with holy oil.
Thursday – A day of egg-dyeing. Traditionally they were dyed red using a special root called rizari.
Friday – Throughout the day, everyone will take flowers to the church, so that the young girls can decorate the “Epitafio”. Later in the evening, the “Epitafios” (translated as Funeral or Good Friday Procession – but I think it means a cross) will pass through the street in solemn procession, leaving from the church in an easterly direction and returning from the west after going round the village or town square.
Saturday – There is a sermon in the morning, during which the doors and chairs are banged and the chandeliers and candle holders are shaken. This is to signify that Christ is no longer in his grave. Traditionally, housewives bake their flaounes (a kind of cheese filled bread) on this day. In the afternoon, bonfires will be lit in the churchyard which represents the burning of Judas, the betrayer of Christ. The sermon of resurrection will begin at 23:00 when everyone goes to church with a candle. At midnight, the priest will proclaim that Christ has risen and the congregation will light their candle and greet each other with “Christos Anesti” (Christ has risen), and the other will answer “Alithos Anesti” (indeed he has risen”. Families will then go home to eat their mayiritsa or avgolemoni soup.
Sunday – There will be a church service around 11:00 and after that, the celebrations will begin. The villages will normally celebrate in the traditional manner with festive programmes consisting of dancing, games and singing, being held either in the churchyard or the village square. Most families will gather with relatives and friends to roast their lamb on the spit.
I will let you know how it all turns out in our little village. My neighbour Mike, who is also my Greek teacher, has been to most of the village planning meetings, and has made up a program specific to Kouklia. I will let you know how it all turns out. Apparently, firecrackers are a hazard to watch out for!
Talk to you soon.
Love,
Laurel
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