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Easter is the most important date in the Greek Orthodox calendar and the
celebrations in Corfu are the most spectacular in all of Greece. Greek Easter’s Holy Week runs from 28th April to 1st May (Easter Sunday) 2016 and we cannot recommend too highly the splendid and beautiful celebrations of
our island. Biers made of flowers and candles from every church in Town
converge on Good Friday, accompanied by a impressive procession of the live
brass bands, of which the island is fiercely and justifiably proud, playing
Albinoni’s Adagio... very moving and evocative...
And on Easter Sunday, families retreat to their country houses to roast whole
lambs in their gardens and hold parties for their friends until dusk. An
extraordinarily beautiful festival and something very special to remember.
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On Easter Saturday morning, the island’s patron saint, St Spiridon, is carried through the streets, flanked by the
grandest litany of bishops, priests, choirs, bands, officials and boy scouts...
and then, at 11 O’clock on the dot, the townspeople practice an Easter celebration quite unique to
Corfu: From every balcony and terrace, from shop doors and restaurant stoops,
earthenware pots are thrown into the streets! Literally thousands of pots rain
down, tossed with vigour and laughter, to expel the Devil and cleanse the
houses in preparation for the resurrection... As midnight approaches on the
Saturday night, tens of thousands of people gather in Corfu’s huge and magnificent main square, holding their unlit candles. When the Bishop
of Corfu announces “Christos Anesti” (Christ Has Risen), a magical wave of candlelight starts spreading out from the
bandstand, where he stands, as each reveller lights their own candle from their
neighbour until thousands of twinkling flames illuminate the joyous faces and
the fireworks explode from the top of the Byzantine Fortress above the crowd.
For those planning ahead, Greek Easter Week 2017 runs from 10th April to
17th April (Easter Sunday).
17th April (Easter Sunday).
© Villa Owners Corfu 2006 – 2015
