Little Bombs...

If lamb on spit is new to you ;)

In the yard

... I promised you this would be the title^^ (It's supposed to be the word for firecrackers...)

Actually this post is about Easter in Greece, since it is quite different than our/the Catholic Easter. First of all, it is one week later than ours, so this year Easter Sunday was on the 15th here. I had the pleasure to spend it traditionally with a Greek family and what else can I they that I found myself in a very hospitable environment.

Unfortunately, I was sick on Black Friday (still fighting the stomach bug) so unfortunately I missed mass in church - no not just any mass. Even though, I could not attend, I watched from my balcony, since the church of Ag. Theodoroi is right across from my balcony. Numerous people pilgrimed to church this evening at about 9pm. Mass kept going for about one hour and a half, but not all people went inside, many stood outside and listened the priest singing and praying (they were even outide speakers). After the service people came out with candles and walked in form of a parade. 

After being totally drugged to my eyeballs with medication (thx again to the person who did this to me^^ - joking - I know you meant well and I appreciated it) I felt a lot better Saturday, so that I could attend a service in ΚΟΡΙΝΘΟΣ (Korinthos). Again, actually we did not go inside the church but waited outside shortly before midnight until the priest told us that the holy light arrived. After this announcement everybody lit their own candle with the light that was passed on from inside the church. I was told that a lot of elderly people keep this light until next Easter; meaning the candle is taken home and shortly before the wax has burned down another candle is lit with the same flame. I mean can you imagine doing this a full year??? Impressive!

Lamb Head

Sunday. Holy Lord! People can say what they want, but Greek people care about food, about good food. The whole day on Saturday people prepared dishes, such as salads, desserts and especially a big lamb that was roasted on the spit all day on Sunday. Guts and other gibs were wrapped around a second spit. What a feast! The leftovers were still consumed the days after, but still tasted delicious. I am very grateful for experiencing this! A special thank you to this family!

Oh yeahh, and because I wanted to integrated a little bit of the Catholic Easter Giorgos had to start looking for treats in his yard ;)

Χρονια πολλα - Χριστοσ Ανεστη

(Chronia polla - Christos Anesti) is what everybody says after the light has been passed on, even days or a week after. It basically means Happy Easter or literally "Best wishes - Christ has risen".

#Fun facts of today#
1. On Black Friday and Easter Saturday the church bell rings about 100 times, sometimes for a full hour. So imagine living across from a church makes you want to cut the bell off (especially when you are sick and your head is pounding more often than the bell is ringing).
2. During the whole Easter weekend, but especially on Friday and Saturday night people spark off firecrackers and let me tell you they are LOUD!!! (On the contrary for New Years Eve firecrackers and fireworks only exist in big cities in Greece)