Cretan Easter 24 April 2022
**Complimentary Easter Feast at local village taverna for all Pure Crete guests**
Greek Easter In Crete is more than flower-covered churches, Easter biscuits and eggs dyed red to symbolise the blood of Christ. It is rich pageant which culminates in a candle-lit procession and the burning of Judas outside each orthodox church. Easter Sunday (April 24th) is celebrated with a feast of lamb cooked over open fires with local village wine at the local taverna compliments of Pure Crete.
Pure Crete can offer Greek Easter Holidays to Crete with flights from Gatwick to Chania on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday or Friday.
Bristol, Birmingham, Dublin, East Midlands, Leeds, Manchester and Stansted flights to Chania available for Greek Easter 2022. Our holidays include complimentary luggage allowance and reserved seating.
Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi)
April 22, 2022
Good Friday is a day of mourning and churches. Usually ring out the death toll throughout the morning – a steady toll of one ring of the bell. The evening church service starts at 7pm and after the service, at around 8.30pm. There is a subdued procession through the streets carrying the epitaph, or coffin, with the congregation following behind, usually all dressed in black. Town shops are normally open 11am-3pm and supermarkets 8am-5pm on Good Friday, and many tavernas remain closed today.
Easter Saturday (Megalo Sabbato)
April 23, 2022
In Crete, village children spend the day preparing a bonfire and an effigy of Judas outside the church to burn after the midnight service. The Anastasi, the Resurrection, takes place at midnight and is the culmination of Holy Week. Churches across Greece are packed from 11pm onwards for the service and the lighting of the Holy Flame at midnight. Many tavernas are open after the midnight service. The 40-day fast ends at midnight today so meat is back on the menu and it’s becoming very popular to celebrate the Anastasi and the start of Easter at a taverna or ‘kentro’ with live music. Town shops close at around 3pm and supermarkets around 5pm today.
Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Paska)
April 24, 2022
Easter Sunday tradition is the roasting of lamb outside on a spit; family and friends usually get together for a big party with plenty of food, Crete recipes, wine, music, and dancing. If friends or neighbours are hosting an Easter party outside you’ll likely be hailed for a celebratory drink and ‘meze’ with them if you happen to pass by their house – the more the merrier!
