Customs of The Holy Week in Greece

Holy Monday

Women tried not to hold knives especially on Holy Monday in fear of getting cut, as it was considered a great sin, due to the blood running from the wound.

 Most people start fasting on Holy Monday. In villages they used to have a lamb with a red ribbon around its neck, tied in the garden.

Holy Tuesday

This day was dedicated to clean the house. In some areas they used to make the Easter cookies and Easter breads (type of brioche) instead of making them on Holy Thursday

Holy Wednesday

Women after church started to prepare the yeast covering it with woolen blankets to get ready for making Easter breads (a type of brioche) and the traditional Easter cookies (koulourakia).

Holy Thursday

This is the day that the eggs are dyed, usually red. The egg represents the tomb where Christ was risen from on resurrection day. The old times they used to dye the eggs with natural colors coming from redwood or almond leaves giving a brownish color. The first egg was considered the egg of Virgin Mary’s and wishes were written on it.

In the evening young girls decorate the Epitaph with Spring flowers singing  the Virgin Mary’s dirge.

Holy Friday

A day of mourning, a great fasting day, some people would drink only water and vinegar. Especially the young girls that decorated the Epitaph were not supposed to eat until the procession of the Epitaph.

In the evening the procession of the Epitaph is taking place, while the bells strike mournfully all day. In many parts of Greece the flowers of the Epitaph are held after the procession, because are considered miraculous.

                                                      Holy Saturday

The lamb was slaughtered for Sunday and in general the preparations were getting place. After church at night everyone is carrying the Holy Fire in their homes and the custom wants to guard it in order not to be extinguished for forty days.  After the Resurrection, which is a celebration, tradition requires breaking and eating the dyed eggs and the soup that has been prepared since morning.

Easter Sunday

This is the great feast of Easter. From early morning the traditional lamb on the spit is baked on the fire, while friends and relatives are gathered around the festive table to eat and have fun until late afternoon.