Greek Easter in Florina
Happy Easter my Dear Readers! Today I'm coming to you from Florina, little town in the North of Greece where me and my family were celebrating Easter this year. There are a lot of local Orthodox traditions here and I am excited to share some of them with you.
Easter preparations begin on Holy Thursday when the traditional Easter bread, tsoureki, is baked, and eggs are dyed red (red is the color of life as well as a representation of the blood of Christ). My Mother-in-law has made the eggs in Thursday and a lot of Tsoureki - all Friday long. It was my first time when I've tried this bread and it has a very unique nice taste which somehow brings me back to my childhood. It goes very well with coffee and tea by the way.
The holiest day of Holy Week is Holy Friday. It is a day of mourning, not of work (including cooking). It is also the only day during the year when the Divine Liturgy is not read. Flags are hung at half-mast and church bells ring all day in a slow mournful tone. This day me and Pete have visited church next to our house for Epitaphio (the symbolic bier of Christ). There is a bier of Christ decorated with flowers in every church of the town. Some people even compare which church has the most beautiful Epitaphio of the year.
On Holy Saturday, the Eternal Flame is brought from Ierusalim to Greece by military jet and is distributed to waiting Priests who carry it to their local churches. There is a tradition to eat Mayiritsa soup after the midnight service, to break the fast. Well one year my pup accidentally have found the pan of Mayiritsa and eat almost all of it. It was the funniest Easter ever
At the Midnight Service all people have special candles which are called labatha and are often given as gifts to children from their parents or Godparents. Mine I've got from my Mother-in-law and have decorated it by myself in house.
In the mornig of Easter Sunday my family had traditional challenge tsougrisma. Holding your egg, you tap the end against the end of your opponent's egg, trying to crack it. It's a game enjoyed by children and adults alike. Eggs are often made in very large quantities since the game continues the next day with more friends and family.
All Sunday long we were enjoing delicious food, wine and greek music in balcony. After midday we went out for a little photoshoot in Central Church of Florina Town. I was wearing my favorite Easter colors: blue and pink. The Ruffled Striped Cotton Shirt I've got from Changla Store on Aliexpress. It's absolutely comfortable, looks very chic and creates the perfect festive feeling. For the bottom I've choosen Mini A-Line Skirt in same color with Heeled Sandals.
Concluding, can't not mention how beautiful greek flags were fluttering in the wind on the church. The love to Greece is endless and I'm just so thankful for this holidays. Happy Easter and "Christos Anesti"!
