The holy days of Easter are coming. The schools are going to close for two weeks. The children are going to have the opportunity to relax. A week before the schools are closed the 5th Grade decided to collect easter customs from all over Greece.

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Lent-fasting period

The lent starts on Clean Monday and ends on Easter Sunday and it is a tradition that every Greek follows.

Firstly, Clean Monday is seven weeks before Easter Sunday and Lent lasts for 40 days. Also, the Lent is a long period during which the Greeks avoid eating meat, milk, cheese etc. for 40 days.

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Last but not least, the purpose of the Lent is to prepare believers, not only to honor, but also to feel the Holy Passion and the Resurrection of Jesus.

The lent is a tradition that every Greek feels great about and it is one of the most important parts of our culture.

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Kyra Sarakosti, Mrs. Lent or Lady Lent

Kyra Sarakosti, Mrs. Lent or Lady Lent, is a charming, old Greek custom, connected to Lent, the seven week, (forty days) period of fasting before Easter, which, in Greek is called Sarakosti.

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Kyra Sarakosti, a jolly little figure, can be made from various things, paper, clay, fabric filled with feathers, or, the most commonly seen, baked from bread or cookie dough. Grandmothers used to make Lady Lent with flour and water. They make a cross on her head with dough and they do not make a mouth because Lady Lent fasted for a long time.

The most obvious characteristic is her seven legs, which are used as a type of calendar, which helps keep track of the countdown to Easter. Each of the seven legs represents one week of Lent and beginning on Kathara Deutera, Clean Monday until Easter.

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus Saturday is the day before Palm Sunday. This Saturday and Sunday are the connection between Great Lent and Holy Week. 

One common tradition throughout Greece for the Saturday of Lazarus is the baking of Lazarakia. Lazarakia is a spice bread which has many sweet spices in it and has no dairy or eggs in it. Lazarakia comes in the shape of a man (which is supposed to be Lazarus). There is a mouth and cloves for eyes.

One recipe can be found here. Lazarakia should look like the Lazarus in the icon of his resurrection, bound like a dead man with a shroud.

In the morning people go to church and attend the mass. The church is decorated with palm leaves and when the mass finishes people take these leaves at home and keep them. At night there is another mass.

Palm Sunday 

Palm Sunday is the first Day of Holy Week. It is when Christians remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
Today at church, we are given bay leaves.
On Palm Sunday, Greeks also consume fish, even though it is still Sarakosti (40 days of Lent).

Great Thursday

On Great Thursday we celebrate the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles. 

This day is the 4th day of the Holy week.This week ends with the celebration of Easter. Great Thursday is preceded by Great Wednesday and followed by Great Friday.

On the night of Great Thursday we go to church and honour Jesus hanging from his cross.

Red Eggs
On Maudy Thursday in many countries it is customary to paint eggs red in honour of the crucifixion of Jesus. Traditionally, eggs in Greece are painted only red, while in other countries the eggs are painted in other colours, several times with intricate shapes. Their colour is red because it symbolizes the blood of Christ. The eggs are cracked on Easter night.

Tsoureki
Tsoureki in Greece is a traditional sweet bread, which is prepared throughout the year and especially during the period of Easter and Christmas. Οn Holy Thursday, all over Greece, women start kneading. They knead the rolls of “Lambris” and decorate them with strips of dough, nuts and a red egg. It is also reffered to as "Lambropsomi", however the word "tsoureki" has prevailed, which was adopted during the turkish occupation.

Holy Friday in Marpissa of Paros 

Every year a special event is organized in Marpissa, on the island of Paros, to commemorate the sufferings of Christ and the Holy Easter. The feast begins on Holy Friday with the representations of Life and Passion of Christ. This tradition is being held for more than 80 years.

In the evening of Holy Friday, in an atmosphere of Christian piety you will experience unique events. Along the procession of the Epitaph around the village, scenes from the Life and Passion of Christ take place. In these, children and young people are involved, dressed in clothing of that era.
The scenes include the Resurrection of Lazarus, the Entry into Jerusalem, the Penance of Mary Magdalene, the Last Supper, the prayer on the Mount of Olives, Pontius Pilate, the Ascent to Calvary, the gallows of Judah, the Crucifixion, the Deposition and Burial of Christ.