Top Destinations For An Authentic Greek Easter

For Greeks, Easter is the most important religious holiday of the year, celebrated in different ways throughout the country.

If you’re looking for a great excuse to escape the city for a while and enjoy the traditions and local customs that accompany this solemn occasion, the below destinations make for an unforgettable Greek Easter!


Corfu


@giwrgoskatehis

Easter in Corfu is a one-of-a-kind experience that attracts hundreds of visitors every year. Corfu is home to an array of traditions and customs, some of which have Venetian influences. The most famous tradition is the throwing of the large jugs, known as botides. The botides are filled with water and thrown one by one from the balconies of Liston, a historic neighborhood in the island’s center.

Patmos


@lifeispatmos

Patmos, the island where John the Evangelist received the visions found in the Book of Revelation, is considered a sacred place and offers a truly unique Easter experience. Among the numerous century-old rituals and customs, the most famous traditions include the Washing of the Feet ceremony in Chora and the reading of the Gospel in seven languages in the Monastery of Saint John the Evangelist.

Chios


@trazeetravel

Except for the delicious mastic, Chios island is also famous for its lively Easter celebrations. Every year, in the village of Vrontados, a variation of the Greek custom of throwing fireworks after the Anastasi takes place, known as rouketopolemos or rocket war. Two rival church congregations engage in a rocket war, firing thousands of homemade rockets across town in an attempt to hit the bell tower of the other church.

 

Leonidio is a historic town in Arcadia, in Eastern Peloponnese, and is an excellent destination to spend the Easter holidays away from the crowds. The most famous Easter tradition, dating back to the 19th century, is the colorful, homemade hot air balloons released by the villagers on the night of the Resurrection. An impressive spectacle to watch as the sky is filled with hundreds of twinkling lights resembling the stars.

Main image: 📸 @photobyosmansilahyurekli