Easter in Greece

 We got to celebrate two Easters this year.  One was the Easter that we celebrate in the states and a week later when the Greeks celebrate it based on the Julian calendar.  When we were returning from our trip to Meteora, we saw a big exodus leaving Athens.  Many head for their ancestral homes on the islands or in the countryside when it is Easter.  

Exiting Athens for Easter ...2 hour wait for some

Wanting to experience Easter, we bought the Tsoureki with the red egg from our local bakery.  I thought everything looked yummy.  The Tsoureki is a traditional sweet bread made for Easter.  It was yummy and moist.  The red colored eggs symbolize the blood and sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the egg symbolizes rebirth.  You can buy the eggs colored at the store.  Eggs are not refrigerated in Greece but sit on the shelf like boxed goods. 

When we were walking home from church on the Greek Easter, we saw lambs on spits out on the patios of some apartments.  We saw people gathering to eat.  They have been fasting from meat for Holy week. On Easter Eve, there is mass at midnight with candlelit processions followed by fireworks.  We were too tired to stay up but the younger missionaries went to mass downtown. 

Easter Traditions

One of the things you can do with the red eggs, is hit another person's red egg and see who will have luck for the coming year, if your egg comes out ahead. On Good Friday we heard the mournful ring of the church bells throughout the day signifying Christ's death.  One of our branch member said that after the mass on Easter Eve, she ate Mayiritsa which is an Easter soup signifying the end of fasting.  It is made from goat or lamb intestines, kidneys, other inside parts, rice, herbs, and lemon.  She was not particularly fond of it but she tried it!  

In General Conference Elder Stevenson began with his talk titled: Greatest Story Ever Told.  He talked about how we celebrate Christmas compared with Easter and said, These words of the Prophet Joseph Smith add additional context to the significance of the events surrounding Easter: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”  He asked, How do we model the teaching and celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Easter story, with the same balance, fulness, and rich religious tradition of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story?  He encouraged, "This includes a greater and more thoughtful recognition of Palm Sunday and Good Friday as practiced by some of our Christian cousins."   

I am grateful to have experienced Easter with Greek Orthodox friends and hope that we can plan better next year with our family to celebrate it with more thoughtful traditions that will help us focus on the Atonement of Christ and the Resurrection.  I know that the resurrection has more meaning each day for me as thoughts of our son Bryce are never far away.  I am grateful for that perspective and for the blessing of family.