Preparing For Easter Celebration

We are preparing for celebrating Easter around here. I admit I'm not so into the celebrating spirit this year, but I'm looking forward to it. We have so many traditions! First of all Good Friday is the day of Epitafios. It's a representation of the burial of Christ. Each church has its own funeral procession and all day and through the evening they carry it around the streets, as people follow it with candles in their hand, along with Philharmonic Orchestras and chories. That music always gives me goose bumps. I LOVE IT!

Then on the Good Saturday morning at 11.00 am is the time the Pot Throwing starts, this is to mark the First Resurrection. The Pot Throwing tradition's dating back to the Venetians who used to throw all their old and  useless objects and pots out of their windows on Jan 1st, just as we celebrate new years eve by opening the doors and windows to let the old year out and the new year in, and of course not forgetting the banging pans, fireworks, sounding of horns and sirens. This tradition is now carried on by local Corfiot people all over the Island, from corfu town and surrounding villages.

After that, our local Philharmonic Orchestras are marching, playing joyful music. The main Resurrection Celebration is held later that night. A Greek Orthodox Church Service is held at the main square and once the bells chime midnight the celebration begins with fireworks, orchestral music and singing. (that's when we're holding our decorated candles, to receive the Holy Light).

After that, we eat! Abundance of wine, local Easter dishes, such as red eggs (that we bump one against the other in honor or the Resurection), fogatsa (it's a local bun) and magiritsa (a traditional soup made of the stomach and the bowels of the lamb - it's a little bit disgusting, I know!)

Red eggs

Fogatsa

Magiritsa

Finally, on Sunday, the Easter! We Greeks know how to eat and we overdo it! Another round of the courses from last night, plus barbequed lamb. (we are like cannibals with all this meat, I know!)

(all photos have links)

So, this is more or less the routine we're following here for these upcoming days. That means I'll be out a lot, mostly eating (which is a BAD THING considering that Summer it's on its way). I leave you with my new "Easter Hair". I don't have a proper photo in the sunlight yet, but it's pretty light red!

I wish you all to have the best days of your life and I'll be back to you soon.

Feel free to share your own Easter Traditions. I'd love to know.