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At home, preparations are made for the coming feast such as whitewashing houses, baking the traditional bread (tsoureki) and biscuits (koulourakia) and dying special eggs (kokina avga). Communities compete to create the most beautiful epitaphios (a bier representing Christ’s tomb). An all night vigil is kept in the churches during which flowers are woven around them ready for Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi). This day is observed as a day of mourning - offices and shops close, flags fly at half mast and funeral bells toll. All over Greece the same procession takes place

but Paros has the famous Marpissa Parastassis - the epitaphios is carried from the church proceeded by penitants dragging wooden crosses. They lead hundreds of people carrying candles through sweet smelling streets strewn with myrtle and bay and passing living tableux depicting scenes from the Easter story. Late on Saturday (Megalo Savato), everyone makes their way to church carrying their white candles. As midnight approaches the lights go out and as the clock strikes twelve one flame is lit

symbolising the Resurrection from which light spreads from candle to candle all throughthe waiting congregation. Firecrackers are deafening as the greeting “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen) and the response, “Alithos Anesti” (Indeed, Christ is risen) is shouted one to another. The flame is kept until they get home when families sit down to supper and crack the red eggs - the person managing to crack

everyone elses egg without breaking his own is said to be blessed with good luck all year. On Easter Sunday (to Agion Pascha) the smell of lamb roasting on the spit pervades the air as families gather for the feast and children are given presents. Remember that the date of Orthodox Easter moves every year according the phases of the moon.