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axariotisxy

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As Easter is approaching I wanted to ask how everyone's Easter was last year. I know this year has been filled with a lot of grief and pain, and I really want to give my family a great Easter in 2021. How was yours last year? How did you find ways to have fun even in the midst of a pandemic?
 
In 2020 for Greek Easter we kept it very small! (normally a large family event).

Still not sure for this year, but since it is on May2nd, warmer weather and more people getting vaccinated, hopefully can still be fun this year too!

Here is a photo from a few years ago of the lamb that we roasted on a spit in our yard:
Why-Do-We-Roast-Lamb-at-Easter.jpeg
 
As Easter is approaching I wanted to ask how everyone's Easter was last year. I know this year has been filled with a lot of grief and pain, and I really want to give my family a great Easter in 2021. How was yours last year? How did you find ways to have fun even in the midst of a pandemic?
Oh my...in thinking back on it, it certainly didn't feel right. We weren't able to go to church, church was closed. We had no big family gathering... We certainly have become more technologically adept, meeting on Zoom.
 
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Easter last year didn't feel like Easter, not just because of the lamb.....which was missed for sure, but because we weren't able to go to church. Luckily. my uncle is a psalti and was able to 'deliver' the holy light to us to bless our homes.
This year it still wont' be the same but at least participating in church and seeing some family outdoors will make it feel more like Easter!
 
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3 words. Drive-Thru Lamb Pickup! Since we couldn't safely gather, my father and I roasted the lamb on a spit and invited our family and friends to drive by for a plate. If they came early they got a piece cut right off the spit served to them on a plastic fork :) It wasn't the same but it made it all a little more fun. This year we are hoping to be able to have a some immediate family over to stay!
 
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3 words. Drive-Thru Lamb Pickup! Since we couldn't safely gather, my father and I roasted the lamb on a spit and invited our family and friends to drive by for a plate. If they came early they got a piece cut right off the spit served to them on a plastic fork :) It wasn't the same but it made it all a little more fun. This year we are hoping to be able to have a some immediate family over to stay!
THAT'S GENIUS!! I'm sending this to my whole family rn lol
 
As Easter is approaching I wanted to ask how everyone's Easter was last year. I know this year has been filled with a lot of grief and pain, and I really want to give my family a great Easter in 2021. How was yours last year? How did you find ways to have fun even in the midst of a pandemic?
Our Easter last year was certainly atypical. My husband and I just made some grilled lamb chops and spent it by ourselves! This year, all vaccinated, we plan to have a total of 12 of us for Easter!
 
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In Sydney we were in lockdown. No visitorsallowed. All churches were closed. We live streamed the Easter services from St George Rose Bay. No parishners allowed so Fr Gerasimo placed A4 sized icons in the pews - socially distanced of course.
My sister Colleen and I had Easter lunch with photos of our family around our dinner table.
This year, not in lockdown. Family and friends are joining us for a feast.
Patricia Paraskevi Zouvelekis
 

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In Sydney we were in lockdown. No visitorsallowed. All churches were closed. We live streamed the Easter services from St George Rose Bay. No parishners allowed so Fr Gerasimo placed A4 sized icons in the pews - socially distanced of course.
My sister Colleen and I had Easter lunch with photos of our family around our dinner table.
This year, not in lockdown. Family and friends are joining us for a feast.
Patricia Paraskevi Zouvelekis
I'm so happy that you and your family can spend Easter together this year! Congratulations and God bless.
 
In Sydney we were in lockdown. No visitorsallowed. All churches were closed. We live streamed the Easter services from St George Rose Bay. No parishners allowed so Fr Gerasimo placed A4 sized icons in the pews - socially distanced of course.
My sister Colleen and I had Easter lunch with photos of our family around our dinner table.
This year, not in lockdown. Family and friends are joining us for a feast.
Patricia Paraskevi Zouvelekis
What a beautiful family!! This is a great idea, I can really feel the love in this photo
 

Why do Greeks celebrate name days?

I grew up with name days being a big deal, and I’ve always wondered why they feel more important than birthdays for so many of us. I know they’re tied to the Greek Orthodox Church feast days and the saints we’re named after, but it feels like there’s something deeper going on culturally.

In my family, name days were always open-house style, people calling, stopping by, bringing sweets, and it felt very communal. Birthdays, on the other hand, were more low-key.

Do you feel like name days still carry that same weight today? Or has it changed depending on the generation or where you live?

Information About Apokries?

I’ve been curious about how people experience Apokries and what it looks like in different parts of Greece. For some, it seems centered on big public celebrations and costumes, while for others it’s more about smaller gatherings, food, and local customs.

I’m especially interested in the traditions people grew up with. Was Apokries something your family actively celebrated, or did it feel more like a community event? Did you attend costume parties, parades, or specific local festivities? And how did days like Tsiknopempti fit into it for you?

I’d also love to hear whether your experience changed over time, for example, celebrating differently as a child versus as an adult, or noticing differences between village and city celebrations.

For those who no longer live in Greece, do you still mark Apokries in some way, or has it faded with distance?

I’m looking forward to hearing how this tradition shows up for others.

What alternatives to Linktree offer robust customization for bio links?

Trying to level up my bio link setup because Linktree feels kinda stiff for what I want to do. I’ve been tweaking my branding this year and I need something that lets me mess with colors, layouts, maybe even some light animations without feeling boxed in. I’m running a mix of art commissions and small merch drops, so having more control would help a ton. If anyone’s found a link-in-bio tool that lets you get creative without needing to code like a pro, I’d love to hear what’s working for you.

Does your family make fanouropita for Saint Phanourios Day?

I recently saw a news article about Saint Fanourios Day, and it showed people bringing fanouropita cakes to a church to be blessed. I knew about fanouropita and the tradition of making it when you’re hoping to find something that has been lost, but I didn’t realize how much of a church tradition it could be on the saint’s feast day itself.

Does your family make fanouropita for Saint Fanourios Day? If so, do you bring the cake to church to be blessed, or do you usually make it at home and share it with family and friends?

I’m also curious whether this is something that is still widely done in Greece or if it depends on the region, parish, or family. Are there any other traditions your family follows for Saint Fanourios Day?

I’d love to hear how people observe the day and whether fanouropita is part of your family’s tradition.

What Does Philotimo Mean to You?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word, or really, the concept, of philotimo. It’s one of those Greek words that just doesn’t translate neatly into English. I was recently trying to explain it to a non-Greek friend, and I realized how difficult it is to put into words!

I ended up talking about ideas like honor, dignity, courage, generosity, and doing the right thing because it’s simply the right thing to do. I even used some historical examples, including the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae and the spirit of Ochi Day, to try to explain the sense of duty and selflessness that I associate with philotimo.

But I know the concept can also show up in much smaller, everyday ways. How would you explain philotimo to someone unfamiliar with Greek culture? What does the word mean to you personally?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

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