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No work today especially not before the church bells ring at around 10am. It's a very Holy day. K eats boiled potatoes, bread and olives. Not even any oil
The bells ring the death knell all day. Christ is taken down off the cross and put on his flower bedecked bier ready for the candlelight parade tonight.
The tradition is.....
To make the rounds of the 4 big churches to see each flower decorated Epitafio (funeral platform). When my girls were wee children my greek sister-in-law encouraged them to crawl underneath to ensure good health.
Today my 'wee' granddaughters did just that, 3 times, making the outline of a cross.
And having a giggle methinks
Meanwhile I went out for coffee and hot(cross-less) buns with 2 dear friends
Jan and Birgit
We go back many many years, all of us are local-aliens
As the English tradition is to eat hotcross buns on Good Friday, that is what we did. I made an overnight dough and baked them this morning.
The last batch turned out like hard little rocks so I made sure these were more than a mouthful and quite soft and fluffy too. Perfect with a morning cappuccino or frappé.
K was busy delivering little gifts of red eggs and koulourakia to friends, neighbours and family. As is the custom (not to mention the tradition)
The day ended with the candlelight light parade
And all the family
Followed the Epitafio with our plain brown beeswax candles
Danae
The after show
Another family tradition
Lenten meze (selection of tasty little greek nibbles) and a few glasses of wine or beer
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ReplyDeleteKali Anastasi! Friday night just finished here in California.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good night here for a candlelight parade. The island is absolutely full. Lots of people, all our family and no wind to blow out the candles.
DeleteIt's fascinating seeing it going on all over the world
I'm exhausted after reading all that. Do the Greeks ever have a break from all these traditions. Here we only have 3; Easter, Bonfire night, and Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIf it's not a national celebration it's a family one. They are getting rather more tiring, mentally and physically as I get older
DeleteI remember doing the exact same thing when I was a wee child lol
ReplyDeleteI sure hope that the church leaders are able to go into the church in Jerusalem and bring forth the light.
I hope the night wasn’t too cold for you all
It was a good night for the parade. No wind to blow out all the candles. All the family joined in.
DeleteThe Holy light ceremony seems to be safe. The Bishops are on their way down there now in the Presidential plane
I think it's beautiful that the tradition has been preserved over the years, with all the hassle it also adds a lot of color to life.
ReplyDeleteWe have something to celebrate in these difficult days. The Holy Light will be lit in Jerusalem, as usual, later today
DeleteI love all these traditions. I am sorry that so few have been continued in Britain. We once had them but now all but gone or only preserved in a commercial sense of shops and mass production such as hot cross buns for most of the year.
ReplyDeleteEveryone enjoys the traditions. They're family celebrations too
DeleteIt's a lovely tradition. Our neighbour often brings us red eggs but we've gone away this weekend. I'm sure her family will take care of them!
ReplyDeleteOops! Barbara!
DeleteHi Barbara
DeleteSomeone will enjoy them lol
What a wonderful tradition.
ReplyDeleteEven spuds bread and olives sounds attractive if its Greek bread and olives. Enjoy your hot cross buns.
ReplyDelete