Following up from yesterday's post, today I'm gonna show you a few more Easter traditions we have in Greece.
Holy Thursday: Tsourekia and Eggs
On Holy Thursday housewives bake the famous τσουρέκια (tsourekia) buns. Soft, fluffy, sweet bread made with:
Eggs...
sugar, butter, orange juice and zest...
flour, baker's yeast and a mixture of spices.
Work the dough with the melted butter...
and make your sweet "braids"
Some beaten egg yolks...
and sesame and off for the oven.
All nice and hot, a true temptation!
And if you are a chocolate lover (like me) why not take it a step further and spread some melted chocolate over these yummy tsourekia? (Thanks mum, I just wasted a month's membership at the gym)
On this day, Holy Thursday, we also dye eggs. The traditional color is red, symbolizing the blood shed, the sacrifice of God to save Man. Over the years new trends hove come and the eggs turned colorful, painted, got stickers and other decorations on.
Special dyes, special coloring threads or roots, onion leaves and beetroots are just a few ways to color your eggs. Those eggs are meant to be "smashed" on Saturday night, after the Resurrection. Someone holds one egg and says Χριστός Ανέστη (Jesus is Risen) and someone else beats that egg with theirs responding Αληθώς Ανέστη (Indeed he is Risen). The goal is to not have your egg broken.
This one is a gift from a friend of mine. It was dyed with colorful threads.
The eggs are also put on the special round tsoureki (κουλούρα - kouloura) for the godmother or godfather who brings the easter candle for their godchild. (We talked about that yesterday)
And tadaaaa!
A custom from Thrace (the place where my ancestors came from), these are called κλίκια (klikia). Klikia are supposed to look like a child. They are made with the same tsoureki dough and hold a red egg. Κλίκια (klikia) are offered to the little children who visit us and wish Χριστός Ανέστη (Jesus is Risen).
Holy Friday: The Epitaphios service
On Holy Friday's evening service the congregation follow the Epitaphios (check wikipedia for more), the passing of dead Jesus through the streets of the town or village and then back to the church. My village honors another tradition brought here by the grandfathers and grandmothers of Thrace, the burning of Judas. A symbolic punishment for the treason that led to Jesus' arrest, torture and Crucifixion.
On the previous day friends gather to prepare the scarecrows. They work together, have fun and honor the traditions they learnt from their parents and grandparents.
Some misinterpret the hidden meaning of this custom as an act of hatred, violence and racism. Many have tried to force us quit on this tradition. But how can we burry a part of our roots, a custom that brings us close to each other? As many people, who don't live in my village any more, return just on this day to walk behind dead Jesus and live again their sweet childhood memories, see the people they don't meet every day, talk with their old friends and wish Καλή Ανάσταση (Happy Resurrection).
I cannot find anything bad in this tradition, but you can say I am biased as I 've been raised to see it as a normal part of all my Easters. Of course it might look a bit cruel, setting a scarecrow on fire, but the burning scarecrow equals the burning of your old, bad self. Judas is nothing more than all the sin, the hatred, the evil thoughts, the darkness one holds in their soul. A spiritual burden we are supposed to get rid off during those holy days and come upon the Resurrected Christ like a naked newborn child, only we are now re-born, re-formed, determined to leave a sinful past behind and determined to make a new start in the name of love.
Tonight we are going to the church and wait for the priest to bring us the Holy Light. We will light our candles, sing Χριστός Ανέστη (Jesus is Risen), we will smash those eggs and then we will return home and sit at the family table with a special meat soup called μαγειρίτσα (magiritsa). May the spiritual light of this night shine in our souls and may love take over our hearts!
I hope you found my country's traditions interesting. Do you want to share any special Easter customs of your place? I'd be glad to hear you :)
Thank you so much for your time!
Until my next post,
Steem on and keep smiling, people!
