Greek Easter, a Joyous Cultural Extravaganza
Curious about how to introduce Greek Easter traditions to little kids?
If you’ re of Greek descent of have ever joined into the Greek Easter celebrations you know it’s the biggest and most joyful occasion on the calendar. Deeply rooted in tradition and culture, Greek Orthodox Easter holds a special place in the hearts of Greeks worldwide.
Unlike Easter in Western Europe, which follows the Gregorian calendar, Greek Easter is determined by the Julian calendar, leading to a date discrepancy that often falls later in the year. Easter is the apex of the Greek religious calendar, surpassing even Christmas in significance.
It is worth noting that for Greeks, Easter is more than just a religious observance; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Families, whether residing in big cities or small villages, come together to celebrate. Greek Easter traditions and age-old customs are observed by all, whether practising Christians or not. And that’s because Easter is a cultural component as much as it is a religious occasion. Even little kids eagerly participate in the festivities, making it a multi-generational celebration filled with joy.
For half-Greek families or Greeks of the diaspora, observing Greek Easter traditions can be a way to introduce the minority culture and language to the kids. Even if you’re not attending any processions and services, it doesn’t mean you can’t mark the occasion in your own special way. It can also be a great way to incorporate old customs into your family traditions and create new memories, as unique as your family makeup is.
So, here are ten activities the whole family can enjoy together. Infuse your Spring family traditions with some Greek Easter spirit!
1. Easter Baking with the Kids
Lazarakia (Lazarus spiced bread rolls)
Such a fun bake for little ones, Lazarakia are baked on Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. Lazarakia are made with simple ingredients like flour, sugar, olive oil, and spices. They don’t contain any butter of eggs as they’re made on the weekend just before the beginning of Holy Week, meaning it’s still Lent.
Named after Lazarus, the biblical figure Jesus raised from the dead, they symbolise the triumph of like over death.
The buns are shaped like little men, representing Lazarus wrapped in burial shrouds. They’ re decorated with cloves for eyes, as a symbol of the spice used to anoint the dead in ancient times.
Despite the slightly macabre back story, aren’t they incredibly cute? And if you want you can go nuts with the shrouds and make them into little mummies. And now that I said nuts, they can also be stuffed with nuts and dried fruits.
Head over to Akis’ for the recipe!
Tsoureki (Sweet Easter Bread)
Tsoureki is a beloved traditional sweet bread and it is the superstar of Greek Easter treats. Its soft and sweet dough is so rich in flavour, but also in symbolism.
The red-dyed egg nestled in the loaf symbolises the blood of Christ and the promise of new life. The braided shape represents the Holy Trinity. (And as for the latest trend of adding chocolate praline, well, I doubt that symbolises anything in particular but my goodness is it delicious.)
Bake this lovely festive bread with your little ones and immerse yourself in the ultimate Greek Easter kitchen ritual.
Koulourakia (Easter Butter Cookies)
These classic buttery Greek Easter cookies are the perfect baking project for little helping hands. The buttery dough is shaped into braids or twists and brushed with egg wash.
The sweet smell of these cookies baking is synonym of Easter joy. My brain makes me think I can literally smell them as I type these words.
See the recipe here, (but I would personally skip the mastic)!
2. Make a Wildflower Wreath
Greek Easter usually falling a bit later in the Spring, we are likely already close to May Day. May wreaths are a custom with roots in Ancient Greece and they symbolise the rebirth of humans and nature – essentially just like Easter does.
The Greek custom is to decorate the front door with a flower wreath to welcome the power of nature into our home. The wreath is made from various flowers, handpicked and knitted together. This usually includes fresh wildflowers from the Greek countryside like daisies, chamomile, wild cranesbill, poppies, and dandelions. You can adapt this tradition using local wildflowers and foliage. Here’s how:
- Do some creative weeding and gather a basket of colourful wild spring blooms. (What is a weed anyway?)
- Use a pre-made base to attach the flowers and greenery with floral wire. If making a wreath from scratch, use a flexible vine or branch and braid the flowers stems through.
- As you would do with a vase arrangement, be generous with your greenery and make sure you overlap the flowers for a full, lush look.
- Finish with some twine, wire or floral tape to keep everything in place. I also like adding some butterfly cutouts to make it extra fairy-like.
- Done! The little ones can wear a lovely floral crown for the your Spring photo album! If close to May Day, grab some decorative ribbon and display your nice wreath on your front door, as per the original custom.
3. Make your own Procession Lanterns
The night time procession of Good Friday is one of the most significant events during the Greek Easter Holy Week. It is also the most memorable part for me, with very vivid memories of the soft chanting and twinkling lights in the dark.
What we used when I was a kid were accordion style paper lanterns. Now, if that’s not a fire hazard I don’t know what is 😂. (Interesting thought, this tradition is reminiscent of Ramadan lanterns, a festival also taking place in the Springtime. I love it when there is an overlap in customs that crosses cultures.)
The Good Friday epitaph procession is such an unforgettable sight. Even though you might not find yourself attending a service on Good Friday, you can still recreate this magical tradition with your kids by making your own decoupage lanterns from jam jars and tissue paper.
You will need:
- Jam jars
- Florist wire or twine
- Tissue paper in different colours or pretty paper napkins
- Mod Podge or white glue diluted with water
- Paintbrush
- Ribbon or decorative hair tie
- Tea lights
Make the lanterns
- Wrap the wire around the neck of the jar, creating two little loops on either side. Then thread another piece of wire through both loops to create a handle.
- Cut or tear the paper into small squares or shapes.
- Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge or diluted white glue to the outside of the glass jar.
- Create a colourful collage of overlapping paper pieces all around your jar, and seal with more Mod Podge or glue.
- Decorate the neck with the ribbon or hair tie.
Once completely dry, place your tea light inside. On the evening of Good Friday, take it with you at the Epitaph procession. If not attending, take a stroll around your neighbourhood or garden at dusk, illuminating your path with your handmade lanterns.
4. Decorate Easter Candles for all the Family
A midnight service full of light
The greatest of all Greek Easter traditions for local families is the Easter mass itself. The culmination of all Easter celebrations in Greece, the midnight Resurrection mass. Everyone attends all dressed up, what is the most theatrical service of the year. The church goes dark at midnight, and with the proclamation of the resurrection the bells ring out, fireworks go off and everyone lights their candle from the altar flame.
The Easter candles
Now, if you’re a grown up, your candle will most likely be a plain white one. But if you’re a kid, you will have received the most amazing, special, personalised Easter candle from your godparents. An Easter candle from a godparent is a very much anticipated Easter gift. Greek shops are full of handmade creations around Easter time. Being an Etsy seller myself I am a little biased but if living abroad then Etsy really is my favourite place for unique Easter candles.
If your little ones don’t have Greek godparents or you live too far away, decorating Easter candles is a great fun activity for kids.
Start with plain white candles and add ribbons, bows, dried flowers, charms, greeting card toppers. These days you can even see kids holding candles with sports team colours or film characters. Our first Easter together at the midnight mass, I made my husband a Lord of the Rings themed one!
The candles would be used to carry the light of Resurrection back home from the church. You can adapt this tradition and light your decorated candle on Saturday night during your family dinner. Pass the light one to the other until all candles are lit. You can keep the Easter light burning in a lantern or tea light holder as a symbol of hope and renewal.
5. Dye Some Eggs!
Dyeing eggs for Easter is a tradition dating back to the 13th century. This ritual takes place on Maundy Thursday, the day of the Crucifixion. The eggs are traditionally given a deep red colour to symbolise blood and sacrifice. Depending on personal taste, you can choose your own colour palette and engage in a fun and creative activity dyeing eggs with your little ones.
Apart from the proposed methods below, you can experiment with other herbal substances with natural pigments. Here are two non-toxic, kid-friendly methods for dyeing Easter eggs using only natural ingredients.
Keep in mind, these methods work so much better with white eggs, which are quite rare in UK supermarkets these days. You can find them if you dig a little more though. It is worth it because the colours are much more vibrant.
Method #1: Onion Skin Dye (for red eggs)
Ingredients:
- Onion skins (red onions for a deep red colour)
- White eggs, hard-boiled
- Water
- Vinegar (optional, for brighter colours)
- Oil for polishing
Method:
- Place the onion skins in a pot, cover with water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the pot and let the onion skin dye cool to room temperature.
- Strain the liquid and add a splash of vinegar.
- Submerge the white eggs in the dye and let them soak in the fridge overnight, or at least for several hours.
- Remove the eggs from the dye and pat them dry with a paper towel. Polish them with a dash of oil on a cotton pad for a nice shiny finish.
Method#2: Natural Plant Dyes (for multi-coloured eggs)
Ingredients:
- Red cabbage (for blue dye)
- Turmeric powder (for yellow dye)
- Beetroots (for pink/red dye)
- Water
- White hard-boiled eggs
- Vinegar (optional, for brighter colours)
- Oil for polishing
Method:
For red cabbage and beetroots, the method is identical to the onion skin method above.
For a vibrant orange using turmeric powder, add turmeric and a splash of vinegar in a pot of cold water. Add the eggs and let them simmer in the dye for 20 minutes. Refrigerate in the same pot overnight and finish them with a little oil.
6. Decorate with Seasonal Flowers, 2 ways
In the days leading up to Easter, make the most of the different beautiful seasonal flowers. But don’t just stop at putting together a nice arrangement. Change the colour palette in your vases to reflect the journey from mourning to joy.
During the Holy week, Greek churches are decorated in purple cloths and ribbons as a sign of mourning. It all switches to pure white on Saturday morning, like a proper set change in a stage play. The white colour shows the triumph of life over death and sets the tone for a really big celebration following a period of solemnity and mourning.
You can reflect this transition in your home too, using beautiful flower arrangements.
Holy Monday – Good Friday:
- Decorate with purple flowers such as lilacs, bluebells, lavender, or crocuses as a sign of mourning and reflection.
Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and for as long as they’ll last:
- Switch to peonies, white roses, chrysanthemums, lilies and baby’s breath.
By choosing and swapping your floral arrangements, you’ll create a visual representation of the Easter narrative within your home.
7. Go Vegan for a Week
Greek Easter traditions fasting lasts for forty days. However, even a mini fasting during the Holy Week is an opportunity for families to connect with the spirit of the season. You can also encourage little ones to join in. As kids, we used to give up all meat and dairy, apart from our glass of milk in the morning. OK, that didn’t affect much our sugar intake (plenty of vegan sweets around). But it was actually thrilling to be allowed chocolate again after a whole week. It made us appreciate the Easter feast more.
Keep in mind different families have different dietary needs. Adapt this tradition as it suits you and abstain from whatever makes sense for you and your little ones! Luckily there’s no shortage of yummy lenten recipes.
8. Time for New Shoes
Honour the old tradition of new Easter shoes and treat your little ones to a fresh pair. In the old generations, during times of poverty, Easter was often the only occasion when children received new shoes. Poppy-red, patent leather shoes were especially Easter-y and a source of great excitement.
I’m not sure myself about the practicality of red Mary Janes, but this year my toddlers can definitely do with some new Crocs. While the tradition may have evolved over time, you can still capture the essence by gifting your children a new pair of shoes in anticipation of Greek Easter. It’s a wonderful way to pay homage to old traditions while creating new memories for the future.
9. Play Tsougrisma
Tsougrisma is the ultimate multi-generational game of egg-cracking, a big part of the Greek Easter feast. The first player taps saying “Christos anesti” (Christ is risen). With another tap, the second player responds “Alithos anesti” (Indeed He is). The goal is to crack your opponent’s egg while keeping yours intact.
Out of all Greek Easter traditions, this one is pure light-hearted fun and it brings so much laughter. Gather your little ones, arm them with their red eggs and begin the Games. The last one with an intact egg will be blessed with good luck for the year.
10. Join an Easter Sunday Feast
Embrace Greek Easter traditions with a big a festive feast with your loved ones. If you have a garden or a veranda, it is the perfect occasion to set your table outdoors and breathe in the springtime air while enjoying your meal. Traditionally, Easter Sunday in Greece is marked by cooking lamb on the spit. However, you can choose to serve any dish that feels special to you or resonates with your family’s traditions. It could be a succulent roast, a vegetarian spread, or whatever treats you gave up for Lent. Whatever the menu, make it an occasion to savour and enjoy.
If hosting feels like too much, consider dining out at a Greek restaurant in your area (if you live in a city there will be one!). Enjoy the lively atmosphere and all traditional Greek Easter dishes. This will most likely be accompanied by music, dancing, and the company of fellow celebrants. It’s a guaranteed way to mark the occasion appropriately!
Final thoughts
So here are some fun ways to add a touch of Greek Easter to your family spring traditions. Baking yummy treats, observing and appreciating the changing of the seasons, crafting DIY decorations, or just hanging out with your loved ones, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Let the Easter spirit bring smiles, laughter, and special moments to your home. Happy Easter, everyone!
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