Here are some possible explanations as to why Greeks dye their eggs red for Easter:

Pagan Fertility Symbol

Before they were adopted as a Christian symbol at Easter, eggs were a pagan symbol of fertility. Eostre, the Germanic fertility goddess, would carry baskets of eggs as a way to encourage fertility. As a result of that, her followers would give her eggs as an offering. When Christianity was in its early stages, the egg was adopted as an Easter symbol, but was given a new meaning.

Decorating Eggs is an Ancient Practice

As it turns out, decorating eggs is an ancient practice. Painted ostrich eggs have been found in Africa, that are around 60,000 years old! Over the centuries, other cultures have adopted the practice of decorating eggs, as well. Yalda, a Persian fertility festival, also features decorated eggs. This festival usually falls around Norwuz, the Iranian New Year

Christians Begin Dyeing Eggs Red

Dyeing eggs red and using them as a symbol for Christ’s resurrection can be traced back to the early days of Christianity in Mesopotamia. They’re the first to have dyed the eggs red, which they did as a reminder for the blood Christ shed for us on the cross. In 1610, the Roman Catholic Church published a document called the Roman Ritual, which contained instructions for blessing food at Easter, including Easter eggs. This tradition continues to this day, especially in countries such as Greece.

Greek Tradition of Dyeing Eggs Red

Greeks adhere to the custom of dyeing the eggs red to symbolize Christ’s blood and the egg itself reminds us of His tomb. When the egg is cracked, it represents His resurrection. No Easter table is complete without them! These are also baked in the center of tsoureki, which is the traditional Easter bread. There is also a special prayer that priests often do that blesses the eggs. In some places, people bring parts of the Easter feast to church so he can say the special prayers. However, this practice isn’t as common as it once was.

Legend of Mary Magdalene

There is a legend that gives Mary Magdalene credit for starting the tradition of the red dyed eggs. According to the stories, Mary Magdalene went to Rome to preach the Gospel. While handing him an egg, she greeted the Emperor Tiberius by saying, “Christ is Risen.” He was skeptical, and when he said that to Mary, the egg that was in her hand turned blood red.

No matter how the tradition started, one thing is certain – red Easter eggs are an important Greek Orthodox Easter tradition!

Source:

Easter Egg – Wikipedia

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In fact, Greeks aren’t the only ones who feel this way. It’s a common Easter dish for many cultures, especially throughout Europe. Where did this tradition of roasting a lamb at Easter even come from?

Lamb Referenced in the Old Testament

The religious significance of lamb began in the Old Testament. In Genesis 22, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. Abraham obediently obeyed God and made his preparations for his sacrifice. When Isaac saw what his father was doing he asked, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Though Abraham didn’t really want to, he was willing to do what God wanted him to do. When God saw that he was willing to obey, He told Abraham to stop. Abraham sacrificed a nearby lamb, instead. In the Old Testament, lambs were offered as a sacrifice to God to atone for their sins.

Jesus is the Lamb of God

John, the author of one of the four Gospels, called Jesus the Lamb of God in John 1:29 and John 1:36. As illustrated in the story illustrated above about Abraham, sacrificing an animal, such as a lamb or a ram, was an important part of the Jewish religion. In Isaiah 53:10, the practice is referred to as a “guilt offering”. By doing this, people offered God restitution for the sins they committed. As Christians, we no longer need to engage in this practice. Because Christ died on the cross for our sins, he became the sacrificial lamb. Since Pascha, or Easter, is the day where we commemorate Jesus’s sacrifice, we eat lamb in remembrance of this selfless act.

Preparing Lamb in the Souvla

There are some differences as to how the lamb is prepared depending on the family and even the region of Greece. By far, the most common way for Greeks to cook the lamb is by placing it whole on a souvla, or spit. Though you can find mechanized spits that turn automatically, those are fairly rare. Instead, taking turns rotating the lamb is an important part of the feast. In some families, the men are responsible for taking care of the lamb while the women make the rest of the preparations.

Click here to learn how to roast a lamb on a souvla or spit.

This meal typically takes place on Pascha or Easter. Some families eat their lamb in the early morning after they return from the Holy Saturday service because they’re eager to finally break the fast. Others wait until later on the day until the entire Greek family and friends come over to celebrate.

Source:

Pascha – Orthodox Wiki

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Attending Church

Preparation for Pascha (Easter) begins at the start of Great Lent. Orthodox Christians fast and pray regularly during the forty days of lent and also during Holy Week. For many Greeks, the church service that takes place in the evening of Holy Saturday is the most important one. However, in the eyes of the church, they’re all equally as important.

Christ is Risen!

Have you ever heard Greek people greet each other at Easter by saying “Christos Anesti?” This means, “Christ is risen.” If they say this to you, impress them by following it up with the proper response of “Truly, he is risen.” In Greek, this is translated to “Allithos Anesti.” The first time this is said is after midnight on Easter Day, usually during the evening church service.

Holy Saturday Service

Just before midnight, the church goes completely dark. After midnight, the church lights up with candlelight as people light their tapers from their neighbor’s and begin chanting “Christos Anesti.” The traditional hymn is also sung. Translated, it means “Christ is risen from the dead. By his death, he has trampled down death. To those in the tomb he gave eternal life.” This hymn is sung for several weeks after Easter during the church services.

Easter Sunday’s Early Meal

Greeks are eager to break the fast they engaged in during Holy Lent as soon as possible, so many of them eat a meal right after they get home from the Holy Saturday church service. The traditional dish to serve during this meal is magaritsa, which is a soup that is made from the organs of the lamb that will be prepared for the main feast. However, some families opt to eat their big Easter dinner during this time. If that is the case, they’ll likely still serve magaritsa.

Red Dyed Easter Eggs

If you’ve attended Greek Easter dinner, you may have noticed that all the eggs are dyed red and there are no pastel colored eggs at the table at all. This is because the egg has come to symbolize Christ’s tomb, which has been stained red with His blood. This is a visual reminder of the fact that He died on the cross for our sins.

Roasted Lamb

Roasted lamb is the traditional meat of choice on the Greek Easter table. It is normally seasoned and prepared on a spit, or souvla. In regions of Greece where lamb isn’t readily available, goat is served instead. The reason why this is served is because according to the Apostle John, Jesus is the Lamb of God. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Eating lamb honors this.

Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread

Another dish that is present at the Greek Easter table is tsoureki, the traditional sweet bread. You’ll recognize this bread because it will likely have a red Easter egg baked right in the center. This bread contains several ingredients that were forbidden during Great Lent such as eggs, butter, and sugar. Some families take this one step further and use the traditional tsoureki dough to make small sweet rolls for the guest to enjoy.

Now, when you attend Greek Easter, you can impress them with how much you know about their culture!

Source:

Pascha – OrthodoxWiki

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Greek Style Roast Leg of Lamb Recipe Ingredients:

• 4 lbs. leg of lamb
• 3 -4 cloves garlic
• Pepper
• Salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 lemon
• 1 cup hot water
• 2 1/2 lbs. potatoes

Instructions to Make Greek Roasted Leg of Lamb:

Wash meat and place in a pan.

Cut garlic into slivers, dust with salt and pepper and insert into incisions made in the lamb.

Peel potatoes and quarter them. Arrange around meat in roasting pan. Melt butter and pour over meat and potatoes.

Sprinkle with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add hot water.

Roast in an oven at a temperature of 375 degrees F for 90 minutes, turn lamb over, give potatoes a stir and continue to roast for another 45 minutes. Oven roast time will vary based on how many pounds the leg of lamb is.

When lamb is done, place on a serving platter. If potatoes are not brown enough place under grill.

**Recommended cook times for GreekBoston.com Greek recipes vary depending on elevation, environmental conditions, the cookware being used, and the nature of the oven or stove. Although we have given approximations, these don’t always take into account your unique environment.

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Greek Style Roast Lamb on a Spit Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 whole lamb 30-35lbs
• High quality olive oil
• Fresh crushed garlic or garlic powder
• Greek Oregano. The stronger the smell the better
• Pepper
• Salt
• Whole Lemons
• Natural wood charcoal

Instructions on How to Make Greek Spit-Roasted Lamb:

THE NIGHT BEFORE:
1. Prepare the ladolemono by mixing the olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper and fresh oregano. This really is something you prepare to taste depending on how strong you enjoy the various flavor components. You will need at least 4 cups as you will be basting the entire lambs multiple times during cooking.

2. Prepare your workspace by cutting some contractor bags open and placing them flat on a sturdy table.

3. Place the lamb on the spit. To secure the lamb, tie the legs to the spit using thick strong wire or U clips. You will also need to attach the spine of the lamb to the skewer by cutting 2 incisions into the lamb and using the U clips, or wire, to attach the spine to the skewer.

3. Generously baste the whole lamb, inside and out, with the latholemono. Wrap the lamb up using the contractor bags and store overnight in a cold area or on ice.

THE MORNING OF:
1. Take the lamb out and unwrap the contractor bags

2. Prepare the rotisserie, or Souvla, by placing the wood charcoal in a pile right in the center. This will help the wood charcoal light better. Once the flame has died down, spread out the coal to both sides of the grill. Avoid having the wood charcoal in the middle, as it will burn the lamb.

3. Place the lamb on the highest rung of the souvla. The purpose of this is to slowly warm up the lamb. After about a half an hour you can lower it to be closer to the flame.

4. Let the lamb slow roast, basting with the ladolemono every half hour or so. The lamb should take about 4-5 hours for an average 30-35lb lamb. Keep an eye on the lamb and raise the skewer higher if the lamb is beginning to burn.

Don’t forget to take a sample right from the spit as it’s cooking. The best meze is straight from the spit!!

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Greek Powdered Sugar Cookies (Kourabiedes) Recipe Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 egg yoke
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• confectioners’ sugar, to garnish
• Walnuts OR almonds (see below)

How to Make the Greek Cookies Kourabiedes:

Preheat oven to 325 Degrees Fahrenheit. Sift flour and baking soda together onto a sheet of parchment or waxed paper. Set aside.

Cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until fluffy. Add egg yoke, brandy, and vanilla extract separately until well incorporated.

Slowly add flour mixture and beat on low speed until mixed thoroughly. Don’t over-mix, though, or else the cookies will be too dense. Using your fingers, roll dough into 1-inch balls and flatten slightly to form a small disk. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in the center of the oven until cookies are lightly golden, which should take about 25 minutes. You may need to bake the Kourabiedes cookies in batches.

Let the Kourabiedes cool completely in the pan or on a wire cooling rack. Place cookies on waxed or parchment paper.  Store cookies in an airtight container. Just before serving, dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar that you placed in a sifter.

Not on walnut or almond use – if you want to add walnuts OR almonds to this recipe, omit 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour and add 1/2 cup of finely crushed walnuts OR almonds. Different regions of Greece make this recipe differently using walnuts, almonds or neither.

This recipe yields around 30 pieces. Feel free to double the recipe if you need to make a larger batch.

*Please Note:  Recommended cook times for GreekBoston.com Greek recipes vary depending on elevation, environmental conditions, the cookware being used, and the nature of the oven or stove. Although we have given approximations, these don’t always take into account your unique environment.

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Cooking the Lamb

What kind of lamb will you cook? You need to think about this from a few weeks in advance, especially if you want to spit roast a whole lamb. It could take some time to reserve a whole lamb, and most places need at least a few weeks notice. If you live in an area with a large Greek population, you will also need to think well in advance. Even if you are just cooking a leg of lamb or lamb chops, you will want to make sure you get your meat before the stores run out. You will also want to figure out how you will cook the meat so that you can plan the timing of the rest of your menu.

Dying Eggs

Did you know that most Greeks wait until Holy Thursday to dye their eggs? The reason for this is more culture than religious, however the timing does coincide with church schedules. Holy Friday (Good Friday) is one of those days where there is more than one church service, and some people go to both services. it is also a somber day, and most Greeks don’t choose to make any Easter preparations on this day. The eggs will be used starting early on Sunday morning, usually after the evening Holy Saturday service.

Baking Tsoureki

Holy Thursday is also the traditional day for baking Tsoureki, the traditional Greek Easter bread. If you are buying your tsoureki instead, Thursday is usually the day the bakeries schedule their pickups for the bread. The reason for this is similar to why we dye eggs on Thursdays. The rest of the week is busy with church, and you will want to have most of your major cooking projects completed before the weekend.

Preparing the Easter Meal

After that, you will need to reserve some time to actually prepare the Easter feast. Think about all the dishes you will want to serve on Easter, as well as those that will be served early Sunday morning after the church service. Possible dishes include Magaritsa, the traditional Easter soup, Koulourakia, the traditional Greek Easter cookie, and kokaretsi, the traditional dish made from the inner parts of the lamb. You will also need to make sure that if you are spit roasting the lamb and/or making kokaretsi, you allow for plenty of time for the lamb to cook. From there, just think about what you need to do to get all the dishes prepared on time for the company.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into preparing for Easter. It’s worth the advanced planning, though, so that you can have an easy week where you are actually able to enjoy the holiday.

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One of the traditions is that there are always Easter eggs at the table that have been dyed a vibrant red. They are eaten as part of a traditional meal and there is even a game associated with them. Here’s more information:

Origin of Greek Easter Eggs

It is unclear exactly how the egg became a symbol for Easter, but many believe that they are a rollover from pagan times, where eggs were a symbol of fertility in various cultures throughout the world, including in Ancient Greece. However, it is unclear how the Christians managed to embrace the symbolism. Historians speculate that since the people were used to associating eggs with fertility, and also springtime for renewal and birth, the crossover simply happened as more and more people embraced Christianity.

Symbolism of Greek Easter Eggs

When the Greeks did embrace the Easter egg, it was given a distinct Christian symbolism. The egg itself was representative of Christ being laid to rest in the tomb. He was encased by the tomb after he died on the cross, just as the egg is encased by its shell. The tradition of dying eggs red was said to have originated in Mesopotamia and eventually, the Greeks embraced this color as well, and decided that the red color was symbolic of the blood that Christ shed on the cross.

Why Greeks Crack Eggs

The reason why Greeks crack Easter eggs points to the symbolism of the egg representing Christ’s tomb. When he was laid to rest, they rolled a stone in front of the cave, creating a seal. When he rose from the dead, the stone was rolled away. The egg being cracked is symbolic of him emerging from the tomb.

There is a game that is often played that also celebrates that. Choose someone to play against. Crack one end of your egg to one end of theres. Repeat on the other side. If both ends of your egg are cracked, you’re out. If you have one end left, you can crack it against someone else who has one end left until a winner is decided. The winner is the one who still has at least one untracked side, where everyone else might have a totally cracked egg.

Red eggs are an important part of the Greek Easter table. The eggs are hardboiled and then dyed. You can use food coloring to do this or track down traditional Greek Easter egg dye imported from Greece.

Source:

Why Do Greeks Dye Eggs Red for Easter?

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Here’s a look at the top Greek foods that find their way at the table during Greek Easter, also known as Pascha:

Spit-Roasted Lamb 

Lamb is by far the most traditional meat that is cooked at Easter. Although there are different ways that lamb can be prepared, roasting it on a spit is by far the most popular. It is also fairly common to prepare something known as Kokoretsi to roast on a spit. This is a dish that includes lamb meat plus the organs from the animal. It is often roasted on a separate spit underneath the lamb itself so that the juices from the lamb can flavor the Kokoretsi.

Magiritsa – Greek Easter Soup

Magiritisa is another dish that is traditionally prepared during Greek Easter. This is a soup that is a bit of an acquired taste for some because it is usually made out of the head of the whole lamb. When the lamb is being prepared for the spit, the head is reserved for this soup. Some say that the meat located on the cheeks of the lamb is some of the most tender! Most recipes involve other parts of the lamb, such as the organs. This is considered to be a delicacy and there are those who really enjoy it!

Red Easter Eggs

Eggs have long been a symbol of spring, and they have also been adopted as a religious symbol for Easter. Greeks hard boil eggs to serve on Easter and then dye them red, which symbolizes Christ’s blood. When the egg is cracked and the peel is taken off, this symbolizes Christ emerging from the tomb after he was resurrected.

Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread

Most holidays in Greece call for a special, sweet bread and Easter is no exception. Known as Tsoureki, this special bread has a cake-like texture and features a decadent blend of milk, sugar, and spices like cinnamon and mahleb (if you can find it). Typically, a red Easter egg is baked into the dough, a symbol of the Christ’s resurrection.

Koulouria – Greek Easter Buns

Some families forego the Tsoureki and actually serve Koulouria, a type of Greek Easter sweet roll, instead. Outside of Easter, Koulouria are found sold throughout Greece but the every day version is different than this. The dough is similar to Tsoureki, but it is a little bit softer and more cake-like. Mahleb is often used as the main spice for this bread but since it is hard to find, cinnamon can be used, as well.

Koulourakia – Greek Butter Cookies

These Greek butter cookies are actually served year round, but they are especially popular at Easter. Recipes differ and there is a little room for creativity. Our version is perfumed with orange zest, vanilla extract, and Greek brandy. However, you can skip the orange zest, use ouzo or another alcohol instead of brandy, et cetera.

No Greek table would be the same without these foods! Consider trying one of these to make your Easter holiday a little bit more traditional.

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Fun Easter Traditions 

There are so many fun Greek Easter Traditions to enjoy that you won’t want to miss. Some of our favorites are eating a traditional meal after the Holy Saturday evening service that takes place after church. This is often quite the feast, and includes all of our favorite Easter dishes, such as lamb, Greek Easter bread, and other dishes like moussaka and pastitsio.

Eating Lamb

Even if you don’t eat lamb at the early meal, you’ll definitely want it later on in the day. The best way to prepare this is to roast it whole on a spit. It’s true that not everyone does this, but when you are able to have a whole-roasted lamb at Easter, it’s a real treat.  It is an amazing way to enjoy the lamb. Granted, you can also prepare lamb other ways, such as leg of lamb, but the most traditional is to roast a whole lamb. It is a great addition to any Easter meal!

Red Easter Eggs

Dying Easter eggs red is a great tradition. Greek Orthodox Christians dye red eggs because it represents the body and blood of Christ. Not only that, but it is fun to dye them with the whole family. On Easter Day, you can play the traditional game of cracking the ends of the eggs together. The person whose egg is still intact after playing the game “wins” good luck for a year.

Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread

Greek Easter bread, also known as Tsoureki, is present on every table. This bread is a cake-like and sweet and made with milk, sugar, butter, and a special spice known as mahlepi. Some recipes call for cinnamon rather than that spice, which can be difficult to find, but the versions that include mahlepi are the most traditional. The loaves are braided and a red Easter egg or two are usually baked into the top.

Eating the Easter Meal

What do you serve at your Greek Easter meal? Different families have their own traditions, but there are some things that are common. These include lamb, Greek Easter bread, magaritsa soup, and Koulourakia, sometimes referred to as Greek Easter cookies. These are cookies that are eaten year round, but they always find their way on the Easter table, and it doesn’t seem to be Greek Easter without them.

While celebrating Greek Easter, consider enjoying some of these amazing traditions!

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It’s also customary to fast throughout Holy Week. For many, they adhere the same general fasting plan they had during Great Lent. Others make their Holy Week fast a little bit more strict. Talk with your priest so that you can come up with a fasting schedule that best meets your own spiritual needs.

Here is an overview of the meaning behind each of the days of Holy Week and the types of church services you’ll be able to attend:

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus Saturday is celebrated in remembrance of the day Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, was brought back from the dead. As you may recall, Lazarus was dead for four days before Jesus brought him back. The entire story is covered in the Book of John in Chapter 11. Specifically, the story of him being brought back from the dead can be found in John 11:38-43.

On Lazarus Saturday, churches usually have a Matins Service, which is what the “morning church service” is referred to as, followed by the Divine Liturgy, which is the standard service that we follow on Sundays. There could also be Evening Vespers.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is also referred to as the Services of Our Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem. This is when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and the people declared him as their King. This event was so important, it is covered in each of the Four Gospels. Please visit Matthew 21, Mark 16, Luke 19, and John 12 for more information about this. Shortly after his Triumphant Entry, Jesus predicted His death. This can also be found in John 12.

Palm Sunday takes place on a Sunday, which means that the regularly Divine Liturgy is celebrated at the regular time for your church. However, the service does include a few extra elements, which emulate His Entry into Jerusalem. Churches also have an evening services referred to as the Bridegroom Services.

Holy Monday

Holy Monday is considered the third day of Holy Week. For each of the first three days, there is a general theme. These are the days that set the stage for Christ’s death and resurrection, which takes place later on in the week. On this day, we commemorate Joseph the Patriarch, the son of Jacob (from the Old Testament). This is also the day that the church remembers the moment that Jesus cursed the fig tree on his way into Jerusalem during His triumphant entry.

There is typically an Orthos Service on Holy Monday. However, some people have the Bridegroom Services on the evening of Palm Sunday, instead. Some churches actually have both services.

Holy Tuesday

Most churches do have a Matins service on Holy Tuesday, which is designed to prepare us for the events of Holy Wednesday. Special hymns are sung on Holy Tuesday and many churches enlist their choir for help singing these hymns. One of the special hymns is called “Hymn of Cassiane” and it has a beautiful, haunting melody. This service usually takes place in the evening.

Holy Wednesday

There are usually two church services that take place on Holy Wednesday, one in the morning and one in the evening. In the morning, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is usually celebrated. This is one of the only opportunities people have during Holy Week to receive Holy Communion. There is usually another service in the evening where people may receive Holy Unction.

The focus during the services of Holy Wednesday are of repentance and confession, and the oil is said to be very healing. This day commemorates the day that Christ’s feet were anointed with myrrh. You can read about this in Gospel of Luke, Chapter 7.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday begins the final events that leads to the Lord’s Passion. On this day, the Mystical Supper, also called the Last Supper, is celebrated. You can read about the Last Supper in several places throughout the Bible including in Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 15.

There are typically two services that take place during Holy Thursday – one in the morning and one in the evening. Much of the evening service is spent preparing for Good Friday. This is the day where He was sentenced to death and nailed on the cross.

Good Friday

On Good Friday, Orthodox Christians commemorate the moment Jesus died on the cross. During the afternoon service, Jesus is taken off the cross and laid in the tomb (Epitafio). During evening service, we mourn his death, read Bible passages, and sing hymns. In the evening, the priest and those who serve in the altar make a procession around the church. Many churches actually take the Epitafio outside of the church and make a procession around the church neighborhood. In many parishes, flower girls throw rose petals on Jesus’s body. This procession represents Jesus entering Hades.

Holy Saturday

During Holy Saturday, we essentially mourn Christ’s death. There are several church services throughout the day, but the most important one takes place in the evening. For several hours before midnight, we sing hymns and spend time in church, anticipating His resurrection. A few minutes before midnight, the church gets quiet and goes dark. Finally, the church erupts in candlelight and the traditional hymn, Christos Anesti, or Christ is Risen, is sung.

Pascha

This is the day we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. The Holy Saturday evening service overlaps with Easter Sunday. There is also a regular Divine Liturgy service on the morning called the Agaph service. However, this differs depending on the church. Most families spend the day together, celebrating into the late hours of the day. For most Greek people, this is the biggest holiday of the year and the celebrations are usually quite festive!

If you’re interested in attending the Holy Week services, check with your parish for a list of the services they will be having as well as the times.

Sources:

Holy Week – OrthodoxWiki

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

Matins – Orthodox Church of America

The Divine Liturgy – Orthodox Church of America

Lent – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

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Sure, the churches do provide enough lambatha candles for everyone who attends the service. However, these candles are rather plain. The truth is, the candles can be decorated any way you wish! Here are some tips that will help you choose a great lambatha candle for you to take with you during the Easter service:

Express Yourself

Greek Easter candles can be decorated any way you want! Young children enjoy having candles decorating with their favorite toys. Older children love holding candles with their favorite colors. Holding decorated candles is a great way to keep kids engaged with the church service. It’s not just children who enjoy these personalized Easter candles – adults like them too! It’s all about finding ways to express yourself and make the church service a little more interesting.

Make the Candles Yourself

In order to make sure you really get the candle that you want, you can try making it yourself! You can wind the candle with brightly colored ribbons, add sparkles and jewels, and even attach jewelry or some small toys to the candle! If you want to decorate the whole thing, just make sure that you leave enough room at the top for it to burn for a long time at the church service. Otherwise, you’ll need to keep watching it to make sure that your decorations don’t start burning.

Check the Burning Time

No matter how your candle is decorated, you need to make sure it has a long burning time. This is especially important if you decide to decorate the candle yourself. Typically, the candle stays lit for the entire church service, which could last a few hours after the candles are lit, depending on the church. After that, it is the tradition to take the candles home while they are still lit and say a few prayers. In fact, many families take the candles home to say a few prayers, and then keep them lit until they burn out naturally.

Give the Candles as a Gift

In some families, it is a tradition for the Godparents to buy their Godchildren a decorated Easter candle. If this is the case, they may ask you what kind of decorations will be best. If you know that the Godparents aren’t going to give their Godchildren a decorated candle, other family members can give it to them, instead, This is considered a nice gesture but it isn’t necessarily a set tradition that all Godparents need to adhere to.

Bringing decorated Lambatha Candles to church on Holy Saturday is a custom that a lot of Greeks throughout the world follow. It’s important to find the right decorations for your personality!

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While not everyone adheres to this tradition, giving a child a new outfit at Easter is something that many Greeks throughout the world do. Here are some ideas on how you can follow the tradition yourself:

Know Who Gives the Outfit

There are no set rules as to who will give the Easter outfit. Usually, it is the Godparents that will gift a set of new church clothes to their Godchild, sometimes it’s the parents of the child who buy the outfit. Often, there are other family members who would like to give a child a new outfit at Easter, as well. If the child ends up with several outfits, it’s not a bad thing. They can simply wear them to church throughout Lent and Holy Week and save the best outfit for the Holy Saturday or the Holy Pascha church services.

Decide on What to Give

When selecting an Easter outfit to give a child, it is important to understand that Greek Orthodox churches are rather formal. Girls wear dresses and skirts and boys wear dress pants and a nice shirt or even a full suit. It isn’t only like this on Easter, either. This is the way people tend to dress throughout the year.

Even though the Easter outfit that you give will likely debut during the Easter services, chances are pretty good that they will wear it throughout the year. When selecting an outfit, you want to choose something designed to wear on Easter that is also versatile. Here are some ideas for outfits that you can give:

• Suit. This is a great idea for young boys. If you have the budget, you may want to include a few different shirts so that they can wear the suit throughout the year.
• Dress. Young girls especially love dresses. You can even give her more than one dress so that she can have a few new outfits to wear long after Easter is over.
• Skirt Set. These are also popular choices for girls on Easter. Including a sweater with this gift will keep her warm on a cold day.

What to Do for Older Children

Easter outfits aren’t only for younger kids – older children appreciate them, too. However, if you’re giving an older child an outfit, keep in mind that their tastes do change as they get older. If you aren’t sure what he or she will like, try asking him or her for suggestions. Another idea is that you can always take him or her shopping or give a gift certificate so that they can buy the outfit themselves. While both of these options do eliminate the “surprise” factor, you’re guaranteed to give something that they’ll really like.

Not every family does this, but there are many Greeks throughout the world who enjoy giving children a new Easter outfit each year. Not only that, but it is a fairly easy tradition to adopt!

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Many of our traditions can be traced since the early days of Christianity in Greece. However, there are a few, such as giving Easter baskets to children, that we borrowed from the American culture. Although not every Greek-American family embraces American traditions such as the Easter basket, there are plenty who do! Here are some suggestions for what you can put inside your homemade basket:

Discounted Easter Candy

More often than not, Greek Easter takes place after American Easter. Some years the difference is about a week, other years over a month passes before Greek Easter takes place! The perfect way to take advantage of this is by buying Easter candy to go in your Easter basket. Popular choices include marshmallow candies in fun Easter-related shapes, chocolate cream eggs, foil wrapped Easter eggs, and Easter bunny chocolates.

Red Easter Eggs

No Greek Easter basket will be complete with red Easter eggs! It is fairly rare to find a Greek Easter celebration that doesn’t have these eggs. If you don’t want to include hard boiled eggs in the child’s Easter basket, you could always fill some red plastic eggs with candy. The red color still represents the blood of Christ, and the plastic egg can still represent His tomb. The only difference is that you can’t play the “egg cracking” game with the plastic eggs.

Toys and Activities

Another great addition to any Easter basket are toys! The nice thing about making your own baskets is that you can choose toys that you know the child will absolutely love. Popular items include stuffed animals, outdoor games and activities, craft supplies, coloring books, and other novelty toys that you know will be a hit. For instance, if you know that the child collects a certain type of doll, you could always give a doll to the collection. If the child loves to play a certain kind of sport, you can also give him or her equipment related to that sport.

Greek Pastries

If you know that the child absolutely loves Greek pastries, they make a great addition to any Easter basket! Popular pastries to eat at Easter include koulourakia, kourambiedes, and baklava. To make this part of the basket extra special, try to find out the pastries the child likes the best. Try packaging the pastries up in a special Easter-themed bag to make it even more festive.

Sure, you can always buy ready-made Easter baskets. However, making them is a lot more fun because you can really choose items that will be meaningful. Giving Easter baskets is a great way to not only adopt an American tradition, but it can also be a great way to share items from the Greek culture.

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Relationships between the Godparents and the Godchild differ greatly because it all depends on what the child really needs. If the parents of the child are avid churchgoers, the Godparent won’t need to get involved as much as they would if the parents don’t regularly attend church.

No matter what your relationship with your Godchild is, it’s still nice to renew your bonds now and then. Easter is a perfect time for that! Even though there are no set rules, it’s still a perfect opportunity to spend some time with your Godchild and even to pamper him or her. Here are some things that you can do during Great Lent, Holy Week, and Easter that will help strengthen your bonds and help guide him or her on the path to being a practicing Orthodox Christian:

Buy an Easter Outfit

Many Godparents buy their Godchild a special outfit to be worn during Holy Week or Easter. Even though this isn’t actually mandated by the church, it is a tradition in many families. When the outfit is worn will all depend on when the Godchild goes to church. For instance, if he or she always attends the Holy Saturday service that takes place in the evening, this is the perfect time to wear the outfit!

Take Holy Communion

Even if you both take Holy Communion on a regular basis, it’s nice to set aside one day to take it together at some point during Great Lent or during Holy Week. This gives you and your Godchild a chance to spend some quality time together while also participating in a very special part of the Orthodox Christian Divine Liturgy together.

Gift the Easter Candle

Does your Godchild attend the Holy Saturday service that takes place in the evening? During this service, the candle plays an important part. While you could always have your Godchild use the candle that the church provides, these candles tend to be unremarkable. While the point of the candle itself is what it represents (they’re lit at the moment when Christ rises from the dead) there’s no harm in giving your Godchild a candle that is a little more unique than the ones the church provides. This is a great tradition that many Godparents and their Godchildren follow.

It is important to understand that there are no set rules as to what the Godparents need to do during Easter. With that being said, the Godparents do have an obligation to make sure that their Godchild develops a great relationship with God and the Orthodox Church. Easter is the perfect time to make sure that the child’s spiritual journey is sound. It’s also a great time to give your Godchild a gift and to also spend some extra time developing the bond between you.

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Greek Butter Cookies Recipe Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2  large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon ground mastic
• 2 tablespoons Metaxa (Greek Brandy)
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 large egg, beaten

Instructions to Bake Greek Butter Cookies:

Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Add butter and sugar to a medium bowl and cream together using an electric mixer that has been set on medium speed.

Slowly add the eggs and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, Metaxa, and orange zest.

Sift the flour and baking powder together in a large bowl. Set the mixer on low speed and slowly add the flour mixture. Turn off the mixer once the flour has all been added and knead the mixture for 20 seconds. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for 1 hour.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Pinch off about 1 inch of the dough and roll into a rope. From there, you can form them into rings or twist them into ropes, as pictured.

Place cookies on greased baking sheets. Brush with the beaten egg using a pastry brush. Sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional). Place baking sheets in the center of the oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.

**Please Note:  Recommended cook times for GreekBoston.com Greek recipes vary depending on elevation, environmental conditions, the cookware being used, and the nature of the oven or stove. Although we have given approximations, these don’t always take into account your unique environment.

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What is Great and Holy Friday?

During Holy Week, the Orthodox Christian Church mimics the events that led to Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. On Great and Holy Friday, He dies on the cross. Most churches host two services – one in the afternoon and another during the day. At the afternoon service, Jesus dies on the cross. In the evening, the service is centered around mourning Christ’s death. This is referred to as the Lamentations service.

What is the Lamentations Service?

During the evening service, the priest removes the Body of Christ from the Cross. Most Greek churches have a large cross with a removal representation of Christ’s body. Once he takes down the Body of Christ, referred to as the Epitafios in the Greek Church, the priest and the alter boys make a procession. At this point, the priest may choose to go outside. After the procession is done, the body is placed in the Sepulcher.

Why Do We Go Outside During Holy Friday?

So, why would the priest choose to go outside? This is actually optional and is more of a traditional than a religious certainty. The only requirement during the service is that the priest takes the Epitafios down from the cross and then makes a procession while singing certain hymns. As long as the procession occurs and certain hymns are being sung, going outside isn’t necessary. However, they may choose to go outside especially if it is the tradition in that particular church to go outside if weather permits.

After the procession ends, the Epitafios is laid in the Sepulcher and the rest of the service continues. The Body of Christ lies in the Sepulcher until Jesus is risen from the dead during the Holy Saturday service. After that, the Greek people celebrate Easter. After the midnight service on Saturday, it is traditional to return home and eat a satisfying meal consisting of many of the foods that were forbidden during Lent. The Easter celebrations and traditions continue throughout the day.

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Julian Calendar

The Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar, to calculate when Easter is. This is the calendar that was officially implemented by Julius Caesar and was in use primarily between 45 BC and 1582 AD. This means that it was the calendar that was used when the Orthodox Church was initially set up. Though much of the world now uses the Gregorian calendar, which replaced the Julian calendar, the custom has remained to use it to calculate the date of Easter. This is one reason why Easter may fall on a different date.

Passover

After the forty days of Great Lent, Orthodox Christians celebrate Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday. When Jesus first arrived in Jerusalem, he was hailed as a king. This moment is honored during Palm Sunday. As the events of Holy Week unfold, Orthodox Christians commemorate the events that led up to his arrest, execution, and then his resurrection.

In the Bible, all of these events took place after Passover. There is some debate amongst scholars as to whether or not the Last Supper was actually a Passover meal. However, in the Orthodox Church, it is acknowledges that Jesus and His Disciples shared this Passover meal together.

Through this meal, Jesus established Holy Eucharist, thus transforming the custom from a Jewish one to a Christian one. As you may recall, this meal happened shortly before Jesus was arrested. Judas sat at that supper table knowing that he had betrayed Jesus and that His arrest was inevitable.

Note that Passover falls at a different time each year, which is another reason why the date for Easter varies.

Spring Equinox

Another important element to calculating Greek Easter is the Spring Equinox. Generally, the date for Easter is set on the first full moon after both the Spring Equinox and Passover. Each year, the date of the Spring Equinox is slightly different. It’s usually somewhere in the third week of March. However, since it differs each year, this factor is something else that could affect when Greek Easter falls.

As you can see, calculating when Greek Easter is can be a difficult task and is the main reason why Eastern and Western Easter often fall on different days. Once every few years, however, the days coincide. This is the exception and not the rule. Also, the date for Easter can vary from early to late spring depending on how the calculations fall. One year, it could be in early April. Other years, it could fall at the beginning of May.

Source:

Pascha – OrthodoxWiki

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For Greek people throughout the world, this usually involves food. The celebrations begin at the midnight service and conclude after the last guest goes home.

Here’s a look at some of the Greek Easter traditions you should get to know:

Midnight Service

For Greek Orthodox Christians, the midnight service on Easter morning is an important one. This is where the true celebration of Christ’s really begins. Once midnight comes, the entire congregation is illuminated with candlelight because Christ is the Light of the World. People sing the traditional hymn- Christos Anesti or Christ is Risen. Parishioners bring the candles home and keep them lit as long as they are able.

Easter Morning Meal

Great Lent is a time of fasting and prayer. Easter, also called Pascha, is the first time in fifty days where some Orthodox Christians get to eat whatever they desire. After coming back from the midnight service, most people sit down to eat meat for the first time. Each family has their own customs as to what, exactly, is served. One of the most common dishes is magiritsa, a traditional soup that is made from the organs of the lamb. For many families, this is the only day when the soup is served.

Red Easter Eggs

On the traditional Greek Easter table, you will only find Easter eggs that have been dyed red. These eggs have a lot of symbolism. The red color symbolizes the blood Christ shed for our sins on the cross. When the egg is cracked and the insides are revealed, this symbolizes His resurrection. Greeks often play a game with the eggs, as well. Each person grabs an egg and takes turns hitting the ends of each other’s eggs. The person whose end doesn’t crack wins the game.

Greek Easter Bread

Greek Easter bread, or Tsoureki, is another thing that is traditionally served only at Easter. Tsoureki is a sweetbread that is traditionally spiced with “mahleb,” which has a delicate flavor that is reminiscent of cinnamon. Since it isn’t readily available in the United States, people often replace it with cinnamon. Some families bake a red Easter egg in the center. Others use the dough to create small rolls rather than make a larger loaf.

Roasted or Barbecued Lamb

Lamb is the meat that is most traditionally served at Greek Easter. In Greece, however, you may find that people serve other meats, such as goats. For them, it depends on what’s available. However, lamb is the preferred choice because Jesus is known as the Lamb of God. In the Jewish tradition, sacrificing a lamb is part of their religious life. John the Baptist was the first to refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God because His purpose was to take away all our sins. Greeks eat lamb in remembrance of that.

Greek Easter is not only a holiday with religious significance, but there are many traditions as well. It’s certainly a time for celebration and for Greeks; this is the biggest religious holiday of the year.

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Purpose of Great Lent

Great Lent was previously called the pre-Pascha Fast. The original purpose was the fasting of Christian youths getting ready for confirmation and Christian conversions prior to baptism as preparations were made for entering the church. Eventually, Christians began using this time in preparation for the feast symbolizing the Resurrection of Christ. This is a living symbol for the entire life of man.

Structure of Great Lent

Cheesefare Sunday takes place on the first Monday after Forgiveness Sunday. According to John 1:43-51, this is the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Once Meatfare Sunday has passed, all meat is eliminated from the diet. After Cheesefare or Forgiveness Sunday, dairy is also eliminated. This is the beginning of the strict fast observed for Great Lent.

Observing Great Lent

The main characterizations of Great Lent are public and private prayer, abstaining from numerous foods, almsgiving or a gift of goods, food or money and personal improvement. Traditionally, dairy and meat products, oil, wine and fish are not consumed during Great Lent. Some traditions only eliminate vegetable oil and others olive oil.

Strict fasting is generally forbidden for both the Lord’s Day and the Sabbath, although oil and wine are acceptable on Saturdays and Sundays. When the Feast of the Annunciation occurs during Great Lent, observers can enjoy oil, wine and fish on this day. The expectation for Orthodox Christians is an additional concentration on private prayers. Prayers are also said more frequently.

Fasting with Prayer

According to the fathers, fasting without prayer is referred to as the fast of the demons because demons do not pray or eat. On the weekdays, a fast occurs when no celebration is held for the Divine Liturgy. During this time, receiving the Holy Mysteries is especially important. This is called the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

The Liturgy celebration takes place on Wednesdays and Fridays. A vesperal service is held including the distribution of the blood and body of Christ. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Saturdays and Sundays as usual. On Sunday, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great takes place as opposed to St. John Chrysostom. Great Lent is celebrated for forty days including Sundays.

Great Lent officially starts seven weeks prior to Pascha on a Monday. The conclusion takes place on the night of Lazarus Saturday. The following week is called Passion Week, Holy Week or Great Week with fasting continuing until Pascha.

Weekday readings during Great Lent only come from the Old Testament. The focus is placed on Isaiah, Proverbs and Genesis. Holy week follows Great Lent. This precedes Pascha and begins with the week starting with Palm Sunday.

Great Lent is about renewing prayer, devotion, deeds, hearts and minds to conform with the teachings of Christ. This is a time to honor the great commandments of God through prayer and fasting.

Source:

Great Lent – OrthodoxWiki

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