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Hi,
in Corfu the religious celebrations take place for longer than a weekend as it was previously mentioned. They actually start from Carnival (last Monday) and end a week after Easter. The intensity of the Celebrations get more intense in the week before Easter (Megalh Evdomada= Big Week), and it is mainly revolved around the church. Even for a not religious person, it is a nice experience to attend the Big Week's service, as the hymns are of the most beautiful in the Christian Orthodox Church.
As a religious celebration, it is not only celebrated in Corfu Town, but in every little village of Corfu (and Greece). Although the procedure is more or less similar, each village adds a different personal colour and style to the celebration. Also it is a much different feeling i believe to celebrate Easter in a small village rather than in the Town, as you get more of the feeling of tradition. During the Big Week, various events and parades take place, either in the villages or in the Town. On that week (originally it should be for 40 days) locals don't eat any meat and milk products, and the closer they get to Easter Day the stricter their diet becomes, excluding oil and other products from their diet. So don't be surprised if you get a funny look when you order a doupble gyros souvlaki wth a lot of tzatziki. :)
The main event of Corfu Town that in my knowledge does not happen in any other place of Corfu is the pot breaking, which takes place in the first Resurrection (12:00, Saturday noon). Women and m en stand in their windows or balconies and when the clock bells midday they start throwing pots down the street. There are many visitors watching, but i have never heared of an accident. It is an event worth seeing, and Corfu Town a beautiful place to be at that time, as it at it's busiest of the year, and there's a strange but nice feeling around.
The main event of greek Easter is of course the Ressurection of Jesus, which takes place at Saturday midnight. As somebody mentioned before, people gather together in chirch yards and wait for the Ressurection to light their candles. I would advice you to do that in a village church, rather the Town church, where apart from the magnificent fireworks, the crowd is too much, and it feels more like a crowded New Year's in Trafalgar. In a village, although you also have the chance to be squezed, you also get the chance to be present in a warm, friendly, and traditional environment, rather than a show. Of course everyone has his/her preferernces, but it's good to know that there are alternatives available.
As for Sunday, is the big meat day! Every household prepares it's own roast in the souvla, eat and brake Easter Eggs, and generally continue the traditions. The coffee shops and kafeneia are open all day (and if it happens to be a sunny day, you get a real celebratory feeling, relaxed and happy). People usually go out to clubs, bars and buzukia at night, (this is of course a more recent tradition) and generally eat and drink the whole day.
Celebrations continue and for next week (which is called Nia Evdomada=New Week), but not so big and intense as the previous week.
Well, as a Corfiot, I haven't spend Easter there for 5 years now, and I am finally going there this year, and I am looking really really forward.
I wish everyone that is visiting a great time. If you have any questions please let me know!
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