There are only a few more beautiful things to do in Greece besides celebrating Easter the Greek way. Celebrating Greek Easter in Santorini is one of the best things to do on the island.
The most amazing thing about celebrating Greek Easter in Santorini is the wonderful celebrations at Pyrgos village on Good Friday and the incredible food you will be able to taste anywhere on the island during Easter Sunday.Greek Easter is in April or May every year, and if you want to visit Santorini during that time, then I recommend booking a hotel either in Pyrgos or in Megalochori village.
No matter how religious you are, you will find a lot of pleasure in exploring Easter traditions in this magnificent place, called Santorini.
The Easter traditions in Greece are very different than those in other Western European countries (catholic, Protestant), and what better place to observe them than the wonderful Santorini island? You should know a few things before planning your spring holiday in Santorini.
Easter is Greece’s most important holy celebration, even more important than Christmas, and everybody loves preparing for it.
As you may know, Santorini is a popular destination for many people worldwide, mainly during summer. Things to know if you are visiting Santorini during the Greek Easter:
- Greek Easter is one week after the Catholic Easter
- On Good Friday, everyone in every village walks with Jesus’ coffin (this is called “epitaph” or “epitafios”
- Pyrgos village is the best place to be on Good Friday in Santorini, where fires are all over the rooftops.
- The tradition on Good Friday is to eat seafood after the Epitaph walk (basically no meat because you are supposed to be fasting for the whole week)
- On Saturday night before Easter Sunday, everyone goes to the church late, before midnight, and then they all gather after that (so around 00:30-01:00) around a pre-Easter meal. The typical thing to eat during that meal is a soup made from the intensity of the lamb you are supposed to eat the next day.
- On Easter Sunday, everyone has a roast lamb BBQ.
For thousands of years, the egg has symbolized fertility, new life, and rebirth in almost every culture worldwide. As with many things, the early church Christianised a pagan belief or festival and adopted the egg as its own.
For Greek Orthodox Christians, the egg symbolizes the empty rock tomb of Jesus after he had arisen from the Crucifixion. The eggs are dyed red to represent his blood. A tradition at Greek Easter is to play a game called Tsougrisma.
The game involves two players, each taking a hard-boiled egg. One person then taps the end of their egg onto the other person’s to crack the opponent’s egg. The winner is said to have good luck throughout the year.This is what happens (in slow motion!):
Orthodox Greek Easter
Greek Orthodox Easter is at a different time of year than the Easter of most other Christians. The reason is that the Greek Orthodox Church continued using the Julian Calendar when most of the Western world switched to the Gregorian calendar.
The other thing to remember is that Greece takes religion slightly more seriously than other countries. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of people here in Greece who don’t believe in God, or who say they do believe, but don’t go to church.
The difference, though, is that plenty of people do. Religion is an integral part of Greek society, and Easter is the most important religious event on the calendar, undoubtedly more important than Christmas.
The week before Easter is called Holy Week; traditionally, people fast and attend church daily. Just enter a church and relax; even if you don’t understand the words, peace and tranquility will surround you. Of course, not every Greek fasts, but I am surprised by how many do.The restaurants cater to fasting people and offer several tasty vegan dishes. At first, the rules for fasting seem pretty simple: no meat, dairy, fish, or alcohol.
On “Big” Thursday, the women dye eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ and bake Easter bread—Tsoureki. These will be on the Easter table on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
Good Friday is a day of mourning. On the streets of Santorini, girls decorate the Epitafio—the funeral bier—which is then paraded in a somber march.The village of Pyrgos Kallistis (its full name means “the most beautiful tower”) is one of the island’s five castle cities and was the capital of Santorini for centuries. Declared a protected settlement in 1995, the castle city is well-preserved today, and in many spots, the 15th-century architecture offers a glimpse of history.
Pyrgos is located high up, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the whole island, all the way to the village of Oia. Many mansions still stand, reminiscent of the island’s wealth during the 18th century.
A simple walk in the streets will take you to another era. However, what happens on Good Friday night, in one of the most celebrated local customs, is truly special.The villagers prepare by lighting thousands of aluminum cans stuffed with flammable materials and placing them on every house, rooftop, church, path, the entire village, and the Venetian castle, creating an unforgettable picture. As you approach the village from below, the view of the flickering torches is so spectacular that many visitors come from all over the island just to witness this event.
The entire village glows ablaze as the funeral procession of the body of Jesus Christ (epitaph) starts through the narrow streets, with thousands of people following behind, holding candles.
The winding streets and the hillside views allow followers to appreciate the sight from afar while being a part of it, in one of the most atmospheric experiences of a lifetime. In truth, this has little to do with religious beliefs, and everyone will appreciate it simply because of its sheer beauty. It is a truly magical sight, not to be missed.Check out these videos to see how Good Friday is celebrated in Pyrgos :
Everybody is at church celebrating the Resurrection of Christ on Great Saturday night at midnight.
The Priest passes the Holy Flame and everybody sings “Christos Anesti” (Christ is Risen).People gather in the churches from around 11 pm for the Easter liturgies. Most people take a candle with them, and the idea is to light it from the Holy Flame and then take it home after midnight.
If Christmas is incomplete without turkey in most countries, then Greek Easter is incomplete without lamb. Whole lambs are roasted over a fire pit for several hours before being taken home for the family feast. Every area of the country has its way of doing things.
FAQs
What happens in Pyrgos on Good Friday?
Are restaurants and shops open in Santorini during Easter?
Yes, Easter marks the unofficial start of the tourist season in Santorini. Most restaurants, cafes, and shops in Fira and Oia will be open. However, on Good Friday, many traditional tavernas will only serve seafood and vegan dishes (no meat or dairy) in observance of the holy fast, and some local shops may close early on Holy Saturday.
Where is the best place to stay in Santorini for Easter?
If you want to experience the traditional celebrations, book a hotel in the village of Pyrgos or Megalochori. Staying in Pyrgos allows you to walk to the Good Friday fire display without dealing with the massive traffic jams of people trying to drive into the village that evening.
