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| Easter in Corfu |
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The celebration of Easter in Corfu is an unforgettable experience for visitors to the island. An atmosphere of great reverence prevails, and there is a general sense of happiness and joy, a symbolic and an actual brightness and sense of hope and renewal.
The traditional customs of the Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations have, in Corfu, been strongly influenced by the way of life of the Western world, a fact that makes the events of the Corfiot Easter festival unique in Greece, and most attractive and interesting for visitors from all parts of the world and of every faith. The philharmonic bands (there are 18 of them), the parades, the beautifully performed ecclesiastical music and the local customs combine with the natural humour and hospitality of the local people to make the traveller s Easter visit to Corfu the most beautiful and famous of the Ionian islands truly memorable.
The Corfiot Easter begins on Palm Sunday. At 11:00 a.m. the procession of Saint Spyridon takes place, winding its way between the Venetian walls as it has done ever since 1630. This is the largest of the many processions in size and duration and all 18 philharmonic bands take part in it as well as representatives of the local authorities and school children.
The following week is Holy Week, and on the Monday the local people begin their shopping and other preparations for the Easter festival. Many people still fast during this week. On Monday afternoon the bells of all the churches ring out to summon people to the church services. |
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On Tuesday, the Organization of Corfiot Activities stages an Evening of Music and Poetry with the theme: From Golgotha to Resurrection.
On Holy Wednesday people gather to hear the fine Municipal Choir sing hymns appropriate to the Holy Passion, some with Byzantine influence.
On Holy Thursday it is the custom to dye eggs red, a symbol for the renewal of life and the natural cycle. In Corfu, as an exception, the Catholic Easter is celebrated at the same time as the Orthodox Easter, and on Holy Thursday the Service of Twelve Gospels is held at the Catholic Duomo. During the service, one candle is lit every time a Gospel is mentioned. |
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Good Friday is filled with activity - the busiest day of the entire Easter celebration. The churches are crowded for the ceremony of the Descent of Christ from the Cross and each one has its own Epitaph (funeral bier). In the city of Corfu alone more than 25 Epitaphios processions take place from 14:00 until 22:00 when the Epitaph of the Orthodox Cathedral Church, which is the largest, comes out last of all so that everybody can be present. Young girls collect fresh flowers in the morning for the decoration of the Epitaphs, each one of which, when it emerges from its church, is accompanied by a philharmonic band, torches and priests, indicating the funereal character of the procession. Scouts, guides and schoolchildren carry baskets of flowers as the processions pass between the thousands of visitors and the local people themselves have been waiting since the morning, anticipating the events that take place right up to midnight. Amongst the fine, solemn pieces of music that accompany the processions are Albinoni s Adagio, Verdi s Marcia Funebre, Mariana s Sventura and Chopin's Funeral March.
On Easter Saturday there is so much to see and experience and you must not miss any of it! Wake up early and enjoy at 06:00am. the amazing custom of the earthquake in the church of Virgin Mary ton Xenon. This is a re-enactment of the earthquake that happened after the Resurrection, according to the Bible. Later on, there is another procession of Saint Spyridon, which first took place in 1550 in commemoration of a miracle of the Saint who saved the island from starvation. After the procession the Shrine of the Saint remains open in the church for a three-day pilgrimage. The Philharmonic bands play Faccio’s Hamlet, Micheli s Calde Lacrime and Marcia Funebre from Beethoven's Eroica. |
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Whatever you do, don't miss the First Resurrection ceremony at 11:00. Thousands of clay pots filled with water are hurled on to the streets from the balconies above. This custom is connected with the Gospels but also has a Venetian influence and actually happens in order to keep the bad spirits away and to bring good luck and happiness. After the throwing of the pots the bands come out again and make their way through the narrow streets at a fast pace playing allegro marches.
In Pinia, a district in the old town, the Corfiot Organization of Activities has revived the Mastela custom. This is a decorated barrel of water where during the previous days passers-by have been encouraged to throw a coin in and make a wish. As the celebration of the First Resurrection takes place, an unsuspecting passer-by is being chased and will bethrown into the barrel. Eventually the victim is tipped out of the barrel along with all the coins.
When night comes, everybody gathers in the Main Square of Corfu. Thousands of people come to see the spectacle of the biggest public square in the whole of Greece, illuminated by the myriad of candles that burn on every balcony and at every window overlooking the square. |
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At midnight the Resurrection is celebrated with drumbeats and fireworks. As soon as the lavish display of fireworks finishes everyone follows the bands through the old city, singing and greeting each other. In restaurants and tavernas, hotels and homes, a meal is eaten, for many people the first for several days. The meal begins with the traditional Magiritsa (meat soup) and the cracking of red-dyed eggs, and continues with fogatsa bread, columbines (Venetian cakes) and lots of wine.
On the morning of Easter Sunday there are church processions in the streets, with the icon of the Resurrection of Christ. In Corfu, tradition has it that egg and lemon soup is served for lunch with three kinds of meat, and the spit-roasted lamb is eaten later in the day or on the next day.
Visitors to Corfu should take a trip into the idyllic Corfiot countryside on Easter Monday and the following Tuesday, to discover the beauty of the island in spring, with its incredible display of wild flowers, and to visit the villages where celebrations and events of all kinds take place throughout the week.
Easter Week in Corfu ends with the feast-pilgrimage on the Friday after Easter at the Paleokastritsa monastery. An end to Easter, but also this celebration represents the first religious feast of the Corfiot summer. |
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| Grand Sea Services - For the Best All-Round Services |
| 18, Ethn. Antistaseos, 49100 Corfu, Greece |
| Tel.: +30 26610 21177, +30 26610 81222 Fax: +30 26610 26426 |
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E-mail: info@grandseaservices.com |
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