Easter in Greece

On Holy Friday in the morning mass the priest takes the "body of the Christ" down from the cross and puts it in his tomb. Epitaphios is a wooden structure every church has and it is supposed to be the tomb of Christ. On Holy Friday morning girls decorate it with flowers, before the priest puts "Christ's body" in it.

During the evening mass boy scouts carry the Epitaphios around the city for a funeral procession.

Easter in Greece

Now it is Holy Week in Greece because most Greeks are Christian Orthodox and Orthodox Easter is usually one week later than Catholic Easter. The Greek word for Easter is Pascha, it has the same origin like the French word Pâques!
Schools are closed for two weeks for Easter vacations. Every day on Holy Week there is a mass at the church both in the morning and in the evening.
On Holy Thursday evening twelve gospels are read stating the Christ's Passion. During the Mass the priest carries the "body of Christ" and puts it on the cross.

Why chocolate eggs?

Easter is not only a feast during which we hide chocolate eggs. It's a very old religious feast. During the Lent, people couldn't eat eggs. So the peasants had too many eggs and they began to decorate them and to offer them to Easter.
In the 17th century a person had the idea to fill an egg with chocolate. At that time, people already liked chocolate.
Belgian chocolate is famous all over the world !

Rattles in Turpange

On Holy Thursday, Jesus was arrested. As a sign of mourning, the bells didn't ring anymore until Easter. The legend says that they left to Rome to be blessed by the Pope. To replace the bells, we go round the village with our rattles in the morning, at midday and in the evening.

Easter in Turpange

Easter is a great family celebration. On that morning, when we get up , we look for the eggs that the bells, while returning from Rome, dropped in the gardens. Some children also receive gifts. At midday, the families meet around a good meal : lamb is often served.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter