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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-04-08
CONTENTS
[01] Easter celebrated in great splendour, devoutness in Greece
[01] Easter celebrated in great splendour, devoutness in Greece
Easter is the biggest celebration of the Orthodox Christians and the
one richest in folklore. All over Greece, Easter is celebrated in great
splendour and devoutness. The word ?Pascha?, Easter in Greek, stems
from the Jewish ?Pasah? which means ?Passover?. The corresponding Greek
word for ?Pascha? is ?Lambr?? (Brightness) because the day of the
resurrection of Christ is a day full of joy and exhilaration. On Easter
Saturday morning, preparations started for the festive dinner of the
night of the Resurrection and housewives cooked ?maghiritsa? (a tripe
and herbs soup). Shortly before midnight, people gathered in churches
holding white candles which they lit with the ?Holy Light? distributed
by the priest. When the latter chanted ?Christ is risen? (Christ?s
Anesti), people exchanged wishes and the so-called ?Kiss of Love?. With
the ?Holy Light? of the candles they thrice made the sign of the cross
on the door post over the front door of their houses for good luck.
Then they all gathered around the festively laid table, they cracked
red eggs and feasted on the traditional ?maghiritsa?.
On Easter Sunday morning, in many parts of the country lamb was
prepared on the spit. In other regions, the meat for the Easter table -
lamb or kid - was roasted in the oven. There was a festive atmosphere
everywhere and people ate and danced, usually until late into the
night.
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