The rules are pretty simple: no animal products with the exception of animals such as octopus and squid as many believe that these creatures do not have blood. Easter time, from the carnivals that come before the Lenten fast through Holy Week and the celebrations of Easter, is a special season in Greece. For Greek Orthodox believers, Good Friday is a day of fasting and absolute mourning. Hi Kat, Yes you can eat all shellfish. In fact, it has to do more that their blood being blue rather than red, due to the hemocyanin. Greek Easter a time of fasting, feasting and forgiveness for Wellington’s Orthodox community. In the old days they used tahini to add some fat, nowadays many of those who avoid olive oil during the fast here in Greece will use corn oil (ugh!) The material that appears on Olive Tomato is for educational purposes only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. ... Greek Easter was a sociable occasion that was family-oriented, he said. On the strict fast days, you do not eat olive oil or drink wine but you can eat all the other fasting foods (including other grains).On the weekends olive oil is allowed. ... the first day of Great Lent before Easter. For Christians, the death of Christ is mankind’s salvation, a source of redemption that comes with his Resurrection, which is celebrated on Easter. Leading up to the Great Easter Sunday is the traditional 40 day lent, during which meat and dairy products are substituted with plentiful amounts of vegetables, fish and seafood. In Naxos, people traditionally do not kiss on Good Friday, because Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. But these oils are not beneficial so healthwise if you want to follow a Greek fast, you would be better off using olive oil, which has added health benefits and actually improves your diet. or other seed or vegetable oils, just so they can say they avoided olive oil. When is Greek Orthodox Easter 2021? Photo by Argolida News. On the evening of Good Friday, in Nafpaktos, western Greece, a crowd of both locals and visitors follow the Epitaph procession, passing through the port where locals light torches and place them all across the castle wall. Most religions around the world have a period in which people should fast. In the afternoon, around 3 pm, everyone gathers again for the Vespers of the Taking Down from the Cross. Photo Credit: Grilled Octopus by Klearchos Kapoutsis. What makes Easter so g Saturdays and Sundays in the Second through Sixth Weeks:Wine and oil are permitted; otherwise the strict fasting rule is kept. She has been active as a clinician, consultant and lecturer for 20 years, both in the U.S. and Greece. In other words, 6 weeks of eating vegan food. And because one cannot use oil, I presume the veggies must be steamed, cooked in water or eaten raw. Orthodox Easter Sunday: 20 Apr: Mon: Orthodox Easter Monday: 2019: 26 Apr: Fri: Orthodox Good Friday: 28 Apr: Sun: Orthodox Easter Sunday: 29 Apr: Mon: Orthodox Easter Monday: 2018: 6 Apr: Fri: Orthodox Good Friday: 8 Apr: Sun: Orthodox Easter Sunday: 9 Apr: Mon: Orthodox Easter Monday: 2017: 14 Apr: Fri: Orthodox Good Friday: 16 Apr: Sun: Orthodox Easter Sunday: 17 Apr: Mon: Orthodox Easter Monday Nevertheless, for those who can do without eggs, milk, meat, etc… for 40 days, in every shop you will find “nistisima food”, the foods you can eat during the fasting period. Great Lent, or the Great Fast, (Greek: Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή or Μεγάλη Νηστεία, meaning "Great 40 Days," and "Great Fast," respectively) is the most important fasting season in the church year in the Eastern Orthodox Church (including Byzantine Rite and Western Rite Orthodoxy), Byzantine Rite Lutheran Churches and the Eastern Catholic Churches, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the … In Koroni, on the Peloponnesian peninsula, people do not eat anything during the entirety of Good Friday. This day marks weeks of fasting preceding Easter. Elena has collaborated with a number of organizations including Loyola University, Yale University, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the American College of Greece. Join Elena Paravantes, award winning Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Writer and THE Mediterranean Diet Expert. Is this correct? The Greek Orthodox Church reminds us about Jesus’ journey to the Cross and death, about his burial and the triumph of evil over good, until the latter triumphs once again with the Resurrection of Christ. Late at night, the Epitaph is carried through every Greek town, village or neighborhood, followed by a procession of faithful. Stuff. See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Nowadays most people (and kids) fast only this week. Learn how your comment data is processed. Good Friday: a Day of Fasting, Mourning and Solemn Processions, Covid-19: New Measures for Restaurants, Travel in Greece, The Greek Queens of Water Polo: Olympiacos Wins European Cup. In some occasions, a band or choir follows the procession and plays or sings solemn music to express the sorrow of the people. Not Allowed: meat poultry, pork, game, fish, dairy, eggs, butter. Also, in many Greek villages, the men refrain from doing any manual work and especially using nails — because it resembles the way in which Jesus was crucified. Jesus was crucified at 9 am, while his torment lasted six hours, until 3 pm, when he passed away, saying “It is finished” (“Tetelestai”). The number of meals each day is also limited. For Greek Orthodox, the celebrations for Easter begin on Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday), the beginning of Lent, by fasting on varieties of seafood, rice, meat free salads, taramosalata, halvas and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Till this day it’s one of my favorite sandwiches. Torches are also placed in the middle of the port, forming a large cross, offering a uniquely moving spectacle to the people following the procession. Allowed: beans, vegetables, bread, fruit, honey, nut butters, rice…pasta (no egg noodles), cereals, olive oil, honey, and basically anything that does not contain animal products with exception of certain seafood. Easter, which in Greek is called “Pascha”, commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is along with his Nativity and The Dormition of the Mother of God one of the three Great Feasts for the Eastern Orthodoxy. Traditionally, magiritsa is eaten to break the fast of the Greek Great Lent, which starts 40 days before Easter and symbolises the return to life after the Resurrection of Jesus. On Good Friday morning, Orthodox faithful gather again to pray the Royal Hours — a special, expanded celebration of the Little Hours — in place of the Divine Liturgy. Greeks prepare for Easter forty days before the great feast, with fasting, praying and attending liturgies through Holy Saturday, until the resurrection of Christ is celebrated on Easter Sunday. In fact, Pascha, is considered the Feast of the Feasts. Greek Easter – The Fast. Grilled lamb on Easter Sunday. The days that the fast is followed are as following: Diehard followers also avoid olive oil which is traditionally allowed only on the weekends. 25 March Greeks celebrate the start of the War of Independence in 1821 and the Annunciation … During a “strict” fast day, it is my understanding that a person may only eat bread, vegetables and fruit. […] by a Greek monastery cookbook. The days that the fast is followed are as following: Every Wednesday and Friday The Great Fast (Lent)-beginning on a Monday 7 weeks before Easter Fast of the Apostles- it begins on a Monday, 8 days after Pentecost, and ends on June 28 Fast of the Repose of … Traditional Greek Easter Lent recipes. Dishes that do not include animal products and adhere to the rules of the fast (called nisteia in Greek) are called nistisima, so for many dishes there was a nistisimo version, for example spinach pie without the feta cheese. As you may have read here on olivetomato, Greeks traditionally abstained from animal products (with the exception of some shellfish) for over 200 days a year for religious reasons. Greek Easter is a very special and holy time indeed. Happy Mediterranean Diet Month-Celebrating Greek Style with advice and tips directly from the heart of the Mediterranean, Greek Chickpeas and Rice with Lemon- Tahini Dressing | Olive Tomato, Greek Inspired Chickpeas Cooked in Tomato Sauce, Greek Braised Broccoli with Garlic and Tomato, Authentic Italian Lemon and Ricotta Cookies, 5 Minute Mediterranean Salad with Sardines and Chickpeas, Mediterranean Baked Sole with Greek Ladolemono Dressing, The Great Fast (Lent)-beginning on a Monday 7 weeks before Easter, Fast of the Apostles- it begins on a Monday, 8 days after Pentecost, and ends on June 28, Fast of the Repose of the Virgin Mary–August 1 to 14, Christmas Fast–lasting 40 days, from November 15 to December 24, Breakfast: Slice of whole wheat bread with tahini or peanut butter and a glass of juice. Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday was a sociable occasion that was family-oriented he... 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