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k_tsoukalas

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Lent for Orthodox Christians begins on Monday (March 15th), which got me thinking about Easter. I am curious - what are some of your favorite Easter traditions? For me, going to church on Saturday night and bringing home the candle, breaking our Lenten fast with a nice meal after church (usually pastitso, kouloura, olives, feta cheese, and a red Easter egg), and eating lamb the next day, are some of my favorites.
 
It is such a special time for us.My dad cooked a whole lamb outside. I took it over for many years and now I cook 2 lamb legs. My son-in-law likes his rare.
Of course, I went to church every day.
 
How is Greek easter different from Catholic or western easter?
 
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How is Greek easter different from Catholic or western easter?
As for timing, I know Orthodox Easter has to be after the first full moon after the Jewish Passover. Western Easter simply has to be after the Equinox. Sometimes they're on the same day. However, if you listen to the Greek comedian Basile, he said it's because it enables the Easter Bunny to buy half price candy.
 
Lent for Orthodox Christians begins on Monday (March 15th), which got me thinking about Easter. I am curious - what are some of your favorite Easter traditions? For me, going to church on Saturday night and bringing home the candle, breaking our Lenten fast with a nice meal after church (usually pastitso, kouloura, olives, feta cheese, and a red Easter egg), and eating lamb the next day, are some of my favorites.
Besides participating in extra church services and fasting through lent, Easter Day is quite the celebration in our house. The food always includes pastitsio, lamb, koulouria , a Greek sweet bread in individually baked pieces that was a recipe unique to my mother-n-law's family. I have yet to see a comparable recipe in Greek cook books. For dessert koulourakia are always included. So many traditions. Here are some koulourakia and the sweet bread right out of the oven.
 

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Easter is my favorite Greek holiday and the tradition I like the most is roasting the lamb on the spit!

The process for my family in past years is to purchase the lamb locally (with head of course!) on good Friday. Keep it packed on ice and then marinate it the next morning (good Saturday) get it attached spit (which is a fun process, LOL) then get it ready to go for Easter morning.

Then the best part happens! Family gets together at 7AM Easter morning and then the fire gets started and the slow cooking process takes place until lunch is served at around 1PM. Most people stop by to grab a fresh piece of lamb off the spit. Most times it does not make it to the table :)

Why-Do-We-Roast-Lamb-at-Easter-720x480.jpeg
 
Easter is my favorite Greek holiday and the tradition I like the most is roasting the lamb on the spit!

The process for my family in past years is to purchase the lamb locally (with head of course!) on good Friday. Keep it packed on ice and then marinate it the next morning (good Saturday) get it attached spit (which is a fun process, LOL) then get it ready to go for Easter morning.

Then the best part happens! Family gets together at 7AM Easter morning and then the fire gets started and the slow cooking process takes place until lunch is served at around 1PM. Most people stop by to grab a fresh piece of lamb off the spit. Most times it does not make it to the table :)

View attachment 32
Oh wow! Head and all? When we used to do the
Easter is my favorite Greek holiday and the tradition I like the most is roasting the lamb on the spit!

The process for my family in past years is to purchase the lamb locally (with head of course!) on good Friday. Keep it packed on ice and then marinate it the next morning (good Saturday) get it attached spit (which is a fun process, LOL) then get it ready to go for Easter morning.

Then the best part happens! Family gets together at 7AM Easter morning and then the fire gets started and the slow cooking process takes place until lunch is served at around 1PM. Most people stop by to grab a fresh piece of lamb off the spit. Most times it does not make it to the table :)

View attachment 32
I hear you. Sounds so similar to what we used to do, minus the head. My husband, his dad, and his brothers used to turn the spit by hand until we got a motorized spit. My husband really misses that tradition, but after losing his father, his brother, and his other brother moved away...well, you get the picture. It's tough having to let some traditions go as we age. We've been making new traditions though. Thank God.
 
Lent for Orthodox Christians begins on Monday (March 15th), which got me thinking about Easter. I am curious - what are some of your favorite Easter traditions? For me, going to church on Saturday night and bringing home the candle, breaking our Lenten fast with a nice meal after church (usually pastitso, kouloura, olives, feta cheese, and a red Easter egg), and eating lamb the next day, are some of my favorites.
Easter is the Greek Super Bow land the lamb on the spit is the MVP!

My favorite tradition in my family is gathering the men (women are welcome they just don't want to hang out with us at 7am ha) building the fire and watching the lamb cook while eating mezedakia, listening to music and laughing. We used to manually turn the spit and take turns doing so back in the day but now we have a motorized spit so we just pretend to be working hard. To me it's a great way of gathering multi generations together to spend time together and not on our phones.
 
Easter is the Greek Super Bow land the lamb on the spit is the MVP!

My favorite tradition in my family is gathering the men (women are welcome they just don't want to hang out with us at 7am ha) building the fire and watching the lamb cook while eating mezedakia, listening to music and laughing. We used to manually turn the spit and take turns doing so back in the day but now we have a motorized spit so we just pretend to be working hard. To me it's a great way of gathering multi generations together to spend time together and not on our phones.
Greek superbowl I LOVE that haha
So true at my house! There are always at least 5 men standing around 1 lamb watching it cook haha
 
As for timing, I know Orthodox Easter has to be after the first full moon after the Jewish Passover. Western Easter simply has to be after the Equinox. Sometimes they're on the same day. However, if you listen to the Greek comedian Basile, he said it's because it enables the Easter Bunny to buy half price candy.
Thank you!! That's hilarious lol, I will check him out
 
Easter is my favorite Greek holiday and the tradition I like the most is roasting the lamb on the spit!

The process for my family in past years is to purchase the lamb locally (with head of course!) on good Friday. Keep it packed on ice and then marinate it the next morning (good Saturday) get it attached spit (which is a fun process, LOL) then get it ready to go for Easter morning.

Then the best part happens! Family gets together at 7AM Easter morning and then the fire gets started and the slow cooking process takes place until lunch is served at around 1PM. Most people stop by to grab a fresh piece of lamb off the spit. Most times it does not make it to the table :)

View attachment 32
Mmmmm looks so yummy! Reminds me of what my uncle used to do every summer except he'd add a couple more lambs lol my family is huge
 
My favorite tradition is coming together with my family and making tsoureki. It's so hands on and I love to get the whole family on board (even if we mess up the recipe lol)

tsoureki.JPG
 
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Dying the eggs red and making tsoureki is definitely a family favorite!
 
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Navigating Greek Lenten Fasting - Advice?

Lent is here and all my friends and family have been asking "what are you doing for lent this year?" They're all "giving something up" but I decided I wanted to fast. I would love your help and advice because this is the first time I am doing things in a stricter way. I resolve to see it through!

It's supposed to be a a time of reflection, purification, and preparation for the celebration of Easter, and the diet plays a significant part in this spiritual journey. I don't want to get so obsessed with the "rules" that I lose myself in them and forget why I am fasting int he first place.

Thanks in advance!

Ideas for Celebrating the New Month - Kalo Mina

Growing up, I heard my family say this all the time when there was a new month. I finally started paying attention to the tradition and ritual of saying it.

Kalo Mina actually means "Good Month" but my family took it a step further. We developed the habit of doing something special as a family to celebrate.It depends which day it falls. Some things we've done:

- Brunch - We do this if it falls on a weekend.
- Dinner - Going out to dinner is great any time of the year!
- Journaling - We've done family journaling parties, sitting together reflecting on the month. Sometimes we read aloud what we write (depends how the month went LOL)
- Goals - No matter if we do anything, like go out to dinner or brunch, we always sit and review our goals for the month together.

Netflix Show about Alexander the Great

I just noticed there was a show about Alexander the Great on Netflix. How is it?

I have been noticing some buzz that it's fairly controversial, but those who are unhappy about it ... I can't tell if they actually know about him, or if they are just upset about how he was depicted.

I am trying to figure out if I want to watch it so your honest reviews are welcome.

I have studied Alexander the Great a little bit and no a bit about his life, so I am sincerely hoping it's worth my time. I am between shows at the moment.

Greek Wedding Traditions Roundup

I am helping someone plan her Greek wedding. I wanted to make a list of all the traditions we need to keep in time for the big day. Did I miss anything?

The Stolisma

The wedding day begins with the ritual of 'Stolisma,' where the bride and groom are prepared separately by their families. It's a moment filled with emotion, songs, and blessings, setting the tone for the day. I had honestly never heard of this. Do people still do it?

The Krevati

An amusing tradition is the 'Krevati' (bed making), where family and friends gather to decorate the couple's future bed with baby items, symbolizing fertility and a happy family life. Money is also often thrown on the bed for good luck and prosperity.

The Crowning (Stefana)

One of the most iconic rituals during the ceremony is the exchange of crowns or 'Stefana.' I believe they need to buy the crowns they want in advance?

Koufeta

No Greek wedding would be complete without 'Koufeta'—sugar-coated almonds given to guests as wedding favors. These bittersweet treats represent the ups and downs of married life and are shared in odd numbers to symbolize indivisibility and shared life.

Greek tradition of hanging onions on the door?

I just came from my friend's house and I saw there were onions hanging on the door! I asked them about it and learned it was a New Year's tradition. Here's what my research pulled out:

The Greek New Year is celebrated on the 1st of January, but the preparations for the celebration begin on the New Year’s Eve. As per tradition, the Greeks hang onions outside their house, balcony, or anywhere visible to attract good fortune, prosperity, and luck. The onions are hung, infused with various symbols like coins, bread, honey, and olives, representing prosperity, food, and success. This concept reminds the Greeks of their grandmothers, who hung onions outside their homes and gatherings during special occasions, especially New Year’s Eve.

Beyond the symbolic value of the onions, for Greeks, hanging onions also has medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Onions can purify the air and keep away harmful bacteria and impurities due to their sulfur compounds. Additionally, they are believed to have great health benefits and can help boost your immunity, reduce the risk of cancer, and regulate cholesterol levels.

Hanging onions is also a fun activity that the family enjoys together. Everyone gathers around and writes their wishes on the onions and ties them with a red thread, symbolizing good fortune. The onion is then hung outside the house, allowing the wishes to come true. The onions can also be collected at a later stage and used for cooking, acting as a souvenir that remains with the family for the rest of the year.

The notion of hanging onions is an ancient tradition in Greece, and the country takes pride in it. The ritual dates back to ancient Greece, where they were hung on doors and windows to keep away evil spirits and other unwanted energies. In Greece, the land of myths and legends, the onion symbolizes the new life that arises from the depths of the earth, representing hope, fertility, and growth.
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

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