Saturday

On Easter Saturday morning, preparations start for the festive dinner of the night of the Resurrection and housewives cook “maghiritsa” (a tripe and herbs soup). Shortly before midnight, people gather in church holding white candles which they light with the “Holy Light” distributed by the priest. When the latter chants “Christ is risen” (Christós Anesti), people exchange wishes and the so-called “Kiss of Love”. With the “Holy Light” of the candles they thrice make the sign of the cross on the door post over the front door of their houses for good luck. Then they allgather around the festively laid table, they crack red eggs and feast on the traditional “maghiritsa”.

Midnight mass Easter Saturday….Families gather at the church and at the strike of midnight light their candles and exchange wishes….Firework desplays then take place ( In Crete this is accompanied by the shooting of bullets from guns into the air….Balotyes)

Maghiritsa (Tripe soup)