The Cretan Easter - The most important celebration of the year
Easter is the most important and most solemn festival in Greece and is associated with deeply rooted traditions, especially on Crete.
It surpasses Christmas in its religious significance and combines spiritual devotion with exuberant joy.
The Easter season on Crete is a unique blend of faith, customs, cuisine and festive atmosphere that captivates visitors from all over the world.
The meaning of Easter in the Orthodox Church
In the Greek Orthodox Church, Easter is the highest festival of the year, commemorating the resurrection of Christ. The Great Lent (Sarakosti) begins on ‘Clean Monday’ (Kathara Deftera) and lasts 40 days. It is used for inner cleansing, prayer and reflection.
Believers abstain from meat, dairy products, eggs and often also olive oil and alcohol. Instead, plant-based dishes and seafood take centre stage, such as lentil soup, bean soup, stuffed vine leaves and squid.
On Carnival Sunday (Apokries), many enjoy one last feast of meat before Lent officially begins the following Monday. This day is celebrated with kite flying and the consumption of lagana (unleavened bread), tarama (fish roe paste) and olives.
Many believers keep the fast until the night of the resurrection, when it is broken with the first festive meal.
Easter week, Holy Week (Megali Evdomada), is the holiest time of the year. People attend church every day and there is a very special atmosphere in the villages and towns of Crete - a mixture of silence, contemplation and joyful anticipation of the imminent resurrection of Christ.
Why Easter on Crete is something very special
Easter on Crete is not just a religious celebration, but a deeply rooted cultural experience. It combines spirituality, family traditions and pure joie de vivre in a way that can only be found in Greece.
If you are lucky enough to experience Easter on Crete, you will witness one of the island's most impressive festivals - an event that unites people's hearts and enchants visitors with its intense atmosphere.
The most important Easter traditions on Crete
Maundy Thursday - the colouring of the eggs
On Maundy Thursday (Megali Pempti), the actual Easter celebration begins with the colouring of Easter eggs. The eggs are traditionally dyed red, symbolising the blood of Christ. These eggs are later used in a special game in which two people beat their eggs against each other to see whose egg remains intact the longest - symbolising the victory of life over death.
On this day, families in the villages also bake the traditional Easter pastry ‘Tsoureki’, a sweet, braided bread with spices such as mastic and mahlep, which is often decorated with a red egg.
Good Friday - a day of mourning and processions
Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi) is a day of deep mourning. The churches are decorated with dark fabrics and touching ceremonies take place. In the evening, the faithful parade through the streets with an elaborately decorated bier, the epitaphios. People follow the procession with candles and pray in an atmosphere of silence and reverence.
Holy Saturday - the celebration of the resurrection
On Holy Saturday (Megalo Savvato), the atmosphere is initially quiet. But around midnight, people gather in the churches to witness the Resurrection Mass (Anástasi) - the highlight of Easter.
Shortly before midnight, all the lights in the church are extinguished and the priest lights the first candle with the sacred Easter fire. This flame is passed from person to person until the whole of Crete is illuminated by a sea of lights. At the same time, people solemnly shout ‘Christos Anesti!’ (Christ is risen!), followed by ‘Alithos Anesti!’ (He is truly risen!).
At this moment, fireworks explode all over the towns and villages, bells ring and the celebration begins.
Easter Sunday - the great feast
After the long period of fasting, Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Pascha) is a day of enjoyment and socialising. Families get together and prepare the traditional lamb on a spit (Arni sti Souvla). The lamb symbolises the sacrifice of Christ and the redemption of mankind.
The whole day is spent laughing, dancing and singing. Especially in the villages, people often celebrate late into the night with traditional Cretan music and dancing.