Why is Greek Easter on a different date?

The Orthodox Church calculates Easter using the older Julian calendar and requires it to fall after Jewish Passover, while Western churches use the Gregorian calendar. The two dates can coincide, but Greek Easter is usually one, four or five weeks later.

What is Greek Easter called?

Pascha (Πάσχα), from the Aramaic for Passover. Greeks call the week before it Megali Evdomada, or Holy Week, and Easter Sunday itself is often called Lambri, 'the bright day'.

Why are Greek Easter eggs red?

Red dye symbolises the blood of Christ, while the shell represents the sealed tomb. Eggs are traditionally dyed on Holy Thursday and cracked against each other on Easter Sunday in a game called tsougrisma — the last unbroken egg brings luck for the year.

What do Greeks eat at Easter?

Magiritsa soup is eaten just after midnight to break the Lenten fast, followed on Sunday by whole spit-roasted lamb or goat, kokoretsi, tsoureki sweet bread, koulourakia biscuits and red eggs.

What do Greeks say at Easter?

At midnight the greeting is 'Christos Anesti' (Christ is risen), answered with 'Alithos Anesti' (truly he is risen). In the weeks before, people say 'Kali Anastasi' — a good Resurrection.

How long is the Greek Orthodox Lent?

Great Lent runs for 40 days, followed by Holy Week, so the fast lasts about seven weeks in total. Strict observance excludes meat, dairy, eggs, fish with backbones, and often oil and wine on certain days.

Greek Easter: Why the Date Is Different

The short answer

Greek Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, is the most important holiday of the Greek year — bigger than Christmas. It is dated by the Julian calendar and must fall after Passover, which is why it usually lands one to five weeks after Western Easter. Holy Week builds from the Epitaphios procession on Good Friday to the midnight Resurrection service, then opens into a Sunday of spit-roasted lamb, red eggs and family.

Holy Week day by day

1
Palm Sunday
Kyriaki ton Vaion
Palm and laurel crosses are handed out in church, and fish is permitted — one of the few breaks in the long fast.
2
Holy Monday to Wednesday
Bridegroom services
Evening services build towards the Passion. On Wednesday the faithful receive holy unction, an anointing with blessed oil.
3
Holy Thursday
Megali Pempti
The day of the twelve Passion gospels. At home, families dye eggs red and bake tsoureki, the braided sweet bread.
4
Good Friday
Megali Paraskevi
The most solemn day of the year. The Epitaphios, a flower-covered bier representing Christ's tomb, is carried through the streets at night, often accompanied by the whole town.
5
Holy Saturday
Anastasi
Just before midnight the church goes dark, then the Holy Light is passed candle to candle as the priest sings 'Christos Anesti'. Fireworks follow, and families walk home shielding the flame.
6
Easter Sunday
Pascha
Lamb goes on the spit early, the wine comes out, and the day is spent eating outdoors with extended family. This is the biggest celebration in the Greek calendar.

The traditions that define it

Tsougrisma — the egg game
Two people knock red eggs together saying 'Christos Anesti'. Whoever's egg survives moves on, and the last intact egg is said to bring the owner good luck.
Magiritsa
A soup of lamb offal, spring onions, dill and avgolemono, eaten straight after the midnight service. It reintroduces the body to rich food after weeks of fasting.
Tsoureki
A braided brioche-style bread flavoured with mahlepi and mastic, usually baked with a red egg pressed into the centre. The three strands represent the Trinity.
The Epitaphios procession
On Good Friday night, congregations carry the decorated bier through the neighbourhood with candles and hymns. On some islands, rival parishes meet in the square.
Corfu's pot throwing
On Holy Saturday morning, Corfiots throw large clay pots from their balconies onto the street below — a Venetian-influenced custom marking renewal.
The lamb on the spit
Roasting a whole lamb or goat over charcoal takes most of Sunday and is a communal event as much as a meal, with the turning of the spit passed between relatives.

Common questions

Why is Greek Easter on a different date?: The Orthodox Church calculates Easter using the older Julian calendar and requires it to fall after Jewish Passover, while Western churches use the Gregorian calendar. The two dates can coincide, but Greek Easter is usually one, four or five weeks later.
What is Greek Easter called?: Pascha (Πάσχα), from the Aramaic for Passover. Greeks call the week before it Megali Evdomada, or Holy Week, and Easter Sunday itself is often called Lambri, 'the bright day'.
Why are Greek Easter eggs red?: Red dye symbolises the blood of Christ, while the shell represents the sealed tomb. Eggs are traditionally dyed on Holy Thursday and cracked against each other on Easter Sunday in a game called tsougrisma — the last unbroken egg brings luck for the year.
What do Greeks eat at Easter?: Magiritsa soup is eaten just after midnight to break the Lenten fast, followed on Sunday by whole spit-roasted lamb or goat, kokoretsi, tsoureki sweet bread, koulourakia biscuits and red eggs.
What do Greeks say at Easter?: At midnight the greeting is 'Christos Anesti' (Christ is risen), answered with 'Alithos Anesti' (truly he is risen). In the weeks before, people say 'Kali Anastasi' — a good Resurrection.
How long is the Greek Orthodox Lent?: Great Lent runs for 40 days, followed by Holy Week, so the fast lasts about seven weeks in total. Strict observance excludes meat, dairy, eggs, fish with backbones, and often oil and wine on certain days.

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Greek Easter Traditions

The short answer

Holy Week day by day

The traditions that define it

Common questions

Test your knowledge of Greek traditions