What does Easter mean for the Greeks?
Easter connects for me with the most beautiful emotional pictures in my box of memories. Like when as a kid I waited for my godmother to bring me my Easter Candle, the new clothes for the Saturday at church, and the Big Easter Chocolate Egg. Or after the preparation where finished in our house, I would go with my parents to our village to celebrate Easter with the rest of the family.
The Easter images in my place are very strong, and for many of us this is the favorite period of the year. The restoration, the Epitaph, the expectation of the Day of Resurrection, the bells ringing merrily on the Holy Saturday, the traditional cookery, and especially fun for the kids, the game of cracking the Easter Eggs, are just a few images inextricably linked to the Greek Easter.
During the Holy Week the women in my family started to prepare traditional Easter Cookies in the house. The smell of baking ammonia filled the house. All the kids of the family, that means the cousins, the godchildren of any family member, were in the kitchen to help with rolling and shaping the dough. It was always one of the funniest moment, when we battled who makes the most beautiful cookie!!
On Easter Saturday after the Resurrection in the church, we kids craved to bring the Holy Light home with our Easter Candle. At home we then played with my cousins cracked eggs. Ate the traditional Greek soup magiritsa (with a special version for us kids). And finally went to bed with the longing for the next day, Easter Sunday.
On Easter Sunday we had a main dish lamb, of course, most of the time in the spit, sometimes in the oven. My grandfather would start to prepare it from the day before. I remember to wake up with my brother about eight o’clock and the lamb would already be on the fire. My grandmother, with my mum and the rest of the women of the family, started to prepare the starters. Potatoes, salads, sweets, and other accompanying dishes, that every family has their own unique way of making. Then there is wine, tsipouro, raki, music and, of course, lots of family and friends.
Easter Sunday or Lambri is a great traditional celebration for my family. And we plan to also enjoy it this year as it should be done: with joy, light and a big table!
