Lazaros and Palm Sunday

This Saturday is the Feast of Lazaros. 

 I'm sure we all know the story of Christ raising Lazaros from the dead.  Greek Orthodox children used to make paper dolls and sing a song about Lazaros, in days gone by.  Fortunately we have a traditional person who remembers both the song and how to make the dolls and he passed on this tradition to his grandaughters today.

These are paper puppets, supposedly portraying Lazaros.  Their arms go up and down.  

The song goes:

Lazaros has arrived and so has Palm Sunday

The Sunday is today, the day we eat fish

With dozens of other verses which I do not intend to translate.

These traditions are largely forgotten but once while shopping in Nafplio on the Saturday of Lazaros we came across a group of school children carrying flowers and singing the Lazaros song.  In other parts of the country they make sweet bread shaped like a person, their arms crossed, with cloves for eyes.

Palm Sunday (Ton Vaiaon)

The last fish eating day of Lent.  Salt cod and garlic sauce might be on the menu but for us it will be 'riki' which is a tuna sort of fish, cooked on a roof tile with just a little lemon juice, oregano and just enough olive oil to stop it sticking.  K is out fishing at the moment so we may have some other sort of fish, probably cooked on the BBQ.

From tomorrow shop hours will be extended and the island will fill up with visitors for the easter holiday.  Schools are closed for 2 weeks.  There are church services very evening and many of those who haven't fasted during Lent will do so this week, called Holy Week.

Souvlaki shops now offer vegetarian alternatives, pita bread stuffed with tzatziki, fries, tomato, onion and maybe a chickpea rissole.  McDonalds used to have deep fried onion rings, spring rolls and a shrimp burger during Lent but I haven't eaten at McDonalds for years.