Paska Friday, Kamini: By George of Foto Glikas

Paska is the most significant religious holiday celebrated throughout Greece.

During the 40 day period of Lent preceding "Megalo" big Easter Sunday, many Orthodox Greeks will fast becoming even more strict about what they eat in the final week. And during the final week there will be church services every day and night.

Easter in Greece is given far more importance than Christmas and is celebrated throughout the country with more enthusiasm than you would find elsewhere in Europe.

As with Western Easter, the actual date changes from one year to the next, but Orthodox Paska only rarely coincides with the non-orthodox Easter. The religious calendars are slightly different even though the celebrations are the same. So please see the Event Calendar for the dates each year.Tsoureki traditional bread: by Lucy Paraskeva

At this time of the year the island erupts with children and adults letting off very loud fireworks for at least the two weeks leading up to the main weekend. The afternoon stillness is punctuated with shotgun fire and bangs that make the unwary leap out of their skin.

Megalo Paraskevi (Big Friday) - Good Friday

The official sombre celebrations start on the Friday evening with church services and out-door ceremonies. There are services at both Hydra and Kamini harbours at sunset when the youth of the island carry relics from the churches to be cleansed in the sea. You will need to be in place by about 6:30 in order to get a good view. The actual event starts just after sunset. (9:00ish). Brown candles are carried by the crowds on the Friday evening.

Paska Saturday

Traditional Paska Margaritza Soup: by Lucy ParaskevaFor midnight mass on the Saturday, throngs of people with unlighted, white, candles gather at Hydra's main church on the harbour. Invariably there are so many people that they can't all fit into the churches and the congregation overlow outside. At the end of the service the Bishop lights the candles from the main one in the church, then everyone starts to light each others, until even the people waiting outside have had their candles light. Then slowly everyone takes them home, using all sorts of odd methods to keep the light going. The candle smoke is used to make a cross on the ceiling above the main door of peoples' homes to bless it and the residents who live there for the coming year.

Paska Sunday

Easter Eggs: By Lucy ParaskevaOn the Sunday children share eggs with each other. The eggs are not the chocolate kind but normal hens eggs, that are hard boiled then dyed red and varnished. Some of them are magnificently decorated especially for important family members. Wherever you go you will be offered a red egg. Even the baker makes special bread and cakes with red eggs decorating them.

Paska Monday

On the Monday evening, just before sunset, the port fills again with everyone good-naturedly jostling for space to witness Judas being executed. The best spot to watch from, iJudas, Monday: By George of Foto Glikass at the end of the outer harbour wall as close to the museum end as possible, but you have to get there early. Traditionally the oldest man on the island uses what is reputed to be the oldest gun on the island to shoot the traitor, which theoretically should ignite the petrol douced effigy, signalling the start of the fireworks display. Invariably though, every man on the island with a gun takes a shot and after numerous false starts the Judas blaze finally gets going and only then do the fireworks start.

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