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Easter at Corfu is approaching
Posted on: March 25th, 2025
Words By: Tony Anderson
Easter at Corfu island is a vibrant fusion of religious devotion, cultural heritage and communal festivity. Distinguished by traditions that blend Greek Orthodox rituals with Venetian influences. While Easter Sunday this year will be celebrated on April 20th, Corfu and Greece as a whole, celebrate the Orthodox Easter Calendar which often happens later than Western Easter. The date of Orthodox Easter varies annually, falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
What makes Easter in Corfu so special are its unique traditions. On Holy Saturday morning, locals throw clay pots (Botides) from windows, smashing them onto streets. This ritual accompanied by philharmonic bands playing lively marches, symbolizes new begginnings and wards off evil spirits, possibly echoing Venetian New Year customs. The island's patron saint is Saint Spyridon, his relics are paraded four times yearly, including Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday. Believed to perform miracles, his involvement underscores Corfu's spiritual heart. On Good Friday, flower-adorned biers (Epitaphios) from each parish converge at Liston Square. The atmosphere, lit by candles and hymns, is profoundly moving.
Central to the processions, the Philharmonic Orchestras, they play solemn dirges like Chopin's Funeral March on Good Friday and jubilant tunes like Graikoi during the Botides. At midnight on Holy Saturday, fireworks and church bells mark Christ's Resurrection, with congregants sharing the Holy Light. After receiving the Holy Light, congregants walk home where they burn a Cross mark on their homes entrance and break their 40 day Lenten fast by eating a traditional tripe soup called Magiritsa.
Corfu's Easter reflects its Venetian past, notably in the use of philharmonic bands and the Botides custom. This mix creates a celebration unlike anywhere else in Greece, combining solemnity with joyous communal spirit. If you are looking for an unforgettable tapestry of faith, history and tradition, then Easter at Corfu is a must experience.
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