Kalo Pasxa!

Kalo Pasxa, or Happy Easter! It's been interesting this week to observe and be a part of some of the traditions leading up to easter in Cyprus. Easter is a significant holiday here, and a range of faith traditions and rituals are practiced across the island.  Large eggs have appeared everywhere in Nicosia, all with Easter messages written on them.  


The church bells have been ringing throughout the week, and tomorrow (known as 'big Friday') is marked by a range of activities.  All the icons in the churches are covered with black shrouds, and then on Saturday these are removed as the congregations in the various churches shake their seats and pews to symbolise an earthquake.  Saturday evening is the largest gathering in the churches.  At midnight the lights all go off, and the priest lights one candle at the front of the church and then this is used to subsequently light other candles across the entire congregation, symbolising the coming of new life and light.  You can imagine the visual effect of this in a large cathedral that might be holding a few thousand people.  Then large bonfires are lit all across the city.  Sunday is the feasting day, where extended families gather for large meals together.  The main course is generally lamb cooked on a spit, so all in all not a good day to be a sheep on Cyprus!

Happy Easter to all.  Χριστός Ανέστη!  (Christos anesti, or Christ is risen)!