Easter
Greek church
The Dating of Greek Easter—Explained by A Mathematician
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The Greek Orthodox use the calendar devised by Julius Caesar -- the Roman general turned dictator -- versus the calendar tweaked by the Pope.
Ancient Greece
Did Easter Come From an Ancient Greek Festival?
Easter is traditionally known as the annual festival to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, scholars have long linked the customs involved in this celebration with pagan festivals that already existed before Jesus.
Could an ancient Greek festival have...
Culture
Catholics Across the World Commemorate Good Friday
Now that Good Friday is upon us, it is useful to understand what this day and the rest of the Easter holiday means to Catholics, who see the day as a time for fasting and mourning.
Good Friday and Easter...
Greece
The Top Destinations for Greek Easter
With Greek Orthodox Easter on May 5, Greeks and tourists alike are planning to rush out of urban centers to enjoy the unique holiday customs found in destinations across the country.
While there are some shared Easter traditions throughout the...
Greece
Why Orthodox and Catholic Easter Will Never Coincide After 2700
This year, Catholic and Greek-Orthodox Christians -- who use different liturgical calendars -- celebrate Easter almost one month apart.
Animals
Modern Critics Rally Against “Inhumane” Greek Easter Lamb Feast
For Greeks, the annual roasted lamb, slowly turning on the spit on Easter Sunday, is not only a mouth-watering delicacy but also part of a centuries-old tradition written into the national psyche.
The event brings together family and friends outdoors and...
Animals
Why Greeks Roast a Whole Lamb on the Spit on Easter Sunday
The picture of a whole lamb slowly turning on the spit over charcoal and the smell that accompanies it spells Easter Sunday for Greeks.
Culture
Greece Celebrates Resurrection of Christ: Christos Anesti!
Greece celebrated on Holy Saturday night the Resurrection of Christ at local churches throughout the country.
In a service that started late in the evening, candle-holding crowds gathered outside the church.
During the liturgy, a few minutes before midnight, all the...
Culture
Why Greeks Crack Red Eggs on Easter
Greeks have been cracking red eggs at Easter for centuries. The tradition, although it is also a fun game, is steeped in religious symbolism.
Greece
Tsoureki: The Traditional Sweet Bread of Greek Easter
Tsoureki (τσουρέκι in Greek) is the traditional sweet yeast bread Greeks make every year on Holy Thursday, which is then consumed on Easter Sunday.
Early in the morning on Holy Thursday throughout Greece, women start kneading the dough for the...