Easter in Corfu

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Easter in Corfu
View of the Liston Street
Also calledCorfiot Easter
TypeCustoms in Corfu
SignificanceEaster
CelebrationsLitanies, Epitaphs, Festivals, Fireworks
BeginsLazarus Saturday
EndsEaster Sunday
FrequencyAnnual
Related toEaster, Corfu
Botides
Decorated windows with the “Botides” on the balconies
Also calledPot throwing
Observed byChristians
Liturgical color  Red
TypeLocal custom on Holy Saturday
SignificanceEaster
Begins11:00 a.m.
Ends11:15 a.m.
FrequencyAnnual

Easter in Corfu is a unique blend of Catholic and Orthodox Christian religious traditions, influenced by Venetian customs and local cultural elements. Since the period of Venetian rule, Easter has been jointly celebrated by both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

The most significant days, rich in traditions and customs, are Holy Friday and Holy Saturday, during which the most characteristic ceremonies of Holy Week take place.

Holy Friday

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On Holy Friday, starting at 2:00 PM, the procession of Epitaphs begins in the cantons and squares of the city and lasts until 10 in the evening, when the procession of the Epitaph of the Μetropolitan Church will begin.[1] There are 33 epitaphs, symbolizing the 33 years of Christ's life.[2]

Each Epitaph is accompanied by a choir, philharmonic, large candles "tortses", towering banners and flambura "scoles". They are also accompanied by schools, scouts and Red Cross.[3][4]

The Epitaph of the Metropolis is accompanied by the clergy and the local authorities, all the philharmonic bands of Corfu, playing solemn funeral marches and choirs singing "E Gene Pase".[5]

Holy Saturday

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The Procession of Saint Spyridon

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At 9:00 a.m., the procession of Saint Spyridon begins from his church. This tradition was established in 1550, when Corfu was saved from famine. Simultaneously, the Epitaph is also carried in procession—unlike in the rest of Greece, where this occurs on Good Friday.

The custom dates back to 1574, when the Venetians, for security reasons, prohib

ited Orthodox processions on Good Friday, allowing only the procession of the Saint on Holy Saturday. Since then, Corfiots have carried the Epitaph of Saint Spyridon's church together with the Saint's relics. The three major philharmonic bands of Corfu accompany the procession.[6][7][8]

The pot throwing (Botides)

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Small "Botides"

At 11:00 a.m., marking the First Resurrection, the church bells ring joyfully across the city, and residents throw “Botides”—large clay jugs filled with water, decorated with red ribbons—out of their windows onto the streets below. The windows are adorned with red cloths.

This custom, celebrated only in Corfu, originates from the Venetian era. The Venetians used to break old clay pots on New Year's Day as a symbol of renewal and prosperity. The Orthodox Corfiots adopted this practice and transferred it to Easter, when they were permitted by the Venetians to celebrate only at midday. As soon as the pots are smashed, the philharmonic bands take to the streets once again, playing the joyful march “Grekoi (Greek: Γρεκοί)”.[9]

The “Mastela” Custom

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The “Mastela” custom takes place in the Pinia district. A decorated barrel filled with water, flowers, and ribbons is placed in the square, and passersby throw coins into it while making a wish. At the moment of the First Resurrection, someone jumps into the barrel to collect the coins. In earlier centuries, the participants would grab an unsuspecting passerby and throw him into the barrel.

The tradition of the Holy Light

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Fireworks going off at 00:00 on Easter Sunday in Spianada Sq.

The reception of the Holy Light takes place in "Pentofanaro Sq." in the presence of Local Authorities and is transferred to the Church of "Saint Paraskevi" and the Resurrection Procession begins.[10] Shortly before midnight, the Resurrection procession is moved to the Spianada Music Pavilion.

The paschal troparion “Christos Anesti (Greek: Χριστός Ανέστη)” is chanted as the three philharmonic bands perform the march “Grekoi (Greek: Γρεκοί)”, followed by fireworks and celebrations across the city.

Lazarus Saturday

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After the service held in the Church of "Saint Nicholas of the Elders" (San Nicolo dei Vecchi), which is located in the old town of Corfu in the "Kambielo" area, at 11.30 in the morning, choral ensembles of the island start a musical tour in various parts of the historic center of the city, singing the "Carols of Lazarus".[11] Their final meeting takes place in "San Giaccomo", the old Town Hall of the City. This event is organized by "Carrier of Corfiot Expression". The carols recount the whole story of the Resurrection of Lazarus and are sung in the Corfu dialect.[12][13]

Palm Sunday - Procession of Saint Spyridon

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Every year at 11:00 a.m. a procession of the Saint Spyridon's body is held in memory of the liberation of the island from the plague epidemic in 1630.[14] According to the Christian religious tradition, on Palm Sunday 1630, following the miraculous intervention of Saint Spyridon, the island was saved from the deadly pestilence.[15] So since then, the people of Corfu, attributing the saving of the island to a miracle of the Saint, carry out a great procession in his honor every year. This is the longest procession of Saint Spyridon's body.

All 18 Philharmonic Orchestras of Corfu participate in the procession and after the procession they parade in the Old Town of the island playing happy marches.[16]

Holy Wednesday – The city's lights turn purple

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On Holy Wednesday the lights in the streets of the city, in Liston and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George are lit up in purple, as is the cross in the Old Fortess of the city.[17]

Holy Thursday

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On Holy Thursday, in the Catholic Cathedral (Duomo), there is a reenactment of the washing of the Apostles’ feet by Jesus.

In the evening, large crowds gather around the buildings of the three philharmonic bands to listen to funeral marches during their final rehearsal before Holy Friday.

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  • "Adagio" by the Philarmonic Society of Corfu on Holy Friday
  • "Grekoi" by the Philarmonic Society of Corfu on Holy Saturday
  • Drums & "Grekoi" by Kapodistrias Philarmonic on Holy Saturday
  • Fireworks going off at 00:00 on Easter Sunday in Spianada Sq.
    Fireworks going off at 00:00 on Easter Sunday in Spianada Sq.
  • View of the Liston buildings with the traditional red cloth on Holy Saturday
    View of the Liston buildings with the traditional red cloth on Holy Saturday
  • The “Mastela” custom barrel
    The “Mastela” custom barrel

See also

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Referrals

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  1. ^ "Οι 33 επιτάφιοι της Κέρκυρας και η μεγαλειώδης περιφορά τους | Ειδήσεις, Επικαιρότητα, Αρθρογραφία | Progressive Citizens". www.progressivecitizens.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-13.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Κέρκυρα: Περιφορά των 33 επιταφίων υπό τα πένθιμα εμβατήρια των Φιλαρμονικών | Kathimerini" (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  3. ^ "Δήμος Κέρκυρας - Πάσχα στην Κέρκυρα". www.corfu.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  4. ^ "Μεγάλη Παρασκευή στην Κέρκυρα: Η δωδεκάωρη περιφορά των Επιταφίων - ΔΟΓΜΑ". ΔΟΓΜΑ (in Greek). 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  5. ^ Newsbomb (2017-04-14). "Πάσχα 2017 στην Κέρκυρα: Η δωδεκάωρη περιφορά των Επιταφίων". Newsbomb.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  6. ^ "Πάσχα στην Κέρκυρα - Γιατί η περιφορά του Επιταφίου γίνεται το πρωί του Μεγάλου Σαββάτου". tempo24.news (in Greek). 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  7. ^ "Γιατί ο επιτάφιος με την περιφορά του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα στην Κέρκυρα γίνεται το Μ. Σάββατο; Από τα πένθιμα εμβατήρια του Μπετόβεν στις χαρμόσυνες καμπάνες και τις κανάτες που ρίχνονται από τα παράθυρα (φωτο & βιντεο) - ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ". ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ (in Greek). 2018-04-06. Archived from the original on 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  8. ^ "Δήμος Κέρκυρας - Πάσχα στην Κέρκυρα 2". www.corfu.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  9. ^ "Πάσχα στην Κέρκυρα: Το έθιμο Μπότηδες". Newpost.gr. Archived from the original on 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  10. ^ "Όλες οι εκδηλώσεις του Κερκυραϊκού Πάσχα". www.ert.gr. 2019-03-30. Archived from the original on 2018-04-15. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  11. ^ iefimerida.gr (2018-03-31). "Εμπειρία! Σάββατο του Λαζάρου -Ξεκινούν τα Πασχαλινά δρώμενα στην Κέρκυρα". iefimerida.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  12. ^ "Πάσχα στην Κέρκυρα - Τα έθιμα του νησιού - Γιορτάζουν μαζί Ορθόδοξοι και Καθολικοί". www.alfavita.gr. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  13. ^ Newsroom (2017-04-08). "Πάσχα 2017: Τα κάλαντα του Λαζάρου στην Κέρκυρα και... οι «κολομπίνες»". CNN.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-12. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "Eκδηλώσεις Κυριακής των Βαϊων |01.04 – LibroDoro.gr | Το Νεο portal της Κερκυρας" (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  15. ^ iefimerida.gr (2017-04-09). "Κυριακή των Βαΐων στην Κέρκυρα -Οταν ο Αγ. Σπυρίδωνας έσωσε το νησί από τη χολέρα [εικόνες & βίντεο]". iefimerida.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  16. ^ "Πάσχα στην Κέρκυρα με τα μοναδικά έθιμα - atCorfu.com". atCorfu.com (in Greek). 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  17. ^ "Τα πασχαλινά έθιμα της Κέρκυρας". www.amna.gr. Retrieved 2018-04-13.