Easter is the most important holiday of the year in Greece. Friday evening we watched a dirge-like procession as church leaders and parishioners carried epitaphs (tapestry with images of the death of Christ) around the city. There was a marching band;
and three flowered floats with epitaphs.
At the end of the procession Friday night, crowds gathered in the main square for a religious service.
Saturday at noon, a crowd gathered to watch the Pottery Breaking Ceremony. Painted and decorated clay jugs (“Botides”), filled with water, are thrown from balconies and smashed on the streets below, with visitors and residents gathering to watch. The smashing symbolizes Christ’s resurrection from the dead (or maybe it’s just a fun pagan ritual).
After all of the pots are broken, people collect shards as souvenirs for good luck.
We think that it’s a miracle that someone below wasn’t injured by a falling pot or a sliver of broken pottery.
For lunch we ate creatively-made fish sandwiches from a colorful take-out shop around the corner from our apartment.
The rental car company delivered our car to the hotel Saturday afternoon and we parked it in one of the free parking lots in town.
At midnight, there were fireworks and church bells but after a busy day, we were fast asleep.💤
Today it’s Easter Sunday and we are moving to our next stop about 50 minutes away in Poros.
Nikos, the host at our next apartment in Poros has invited us to Easter dinner with his family. They will be roasting a lamb and we’ll bring wine for the table. We’re looking forward to a real Easter meal! Wishing you a Happy Easter Day!