Greek independence day and Greek Easter

Greek Independence Day and Greek
Easter
Ελληνική ημέρα της ανεξαρτησίας
και ελληνικό Πάσχα

www.teachingenglishbyfran.blogspot.com

Short History of Modern
Greece
• Greece was controlled by the Ottoman
Empire for 400 years, beginning in
1453. The Greek people were
controlled and oppressed by the Turks
until 1821, when there was a
successful rebellion. The war of
Independence began on March 25, 1821
and lasted until 1829. Greece became
an independent country in 1832 and
then over the years the islands, such
as Corfu and Crete, became part of
the country.


Short History of Modern Greece

The Greek Flag was
created in 1821. The
white cross is for the
importance of the Greek
Orthodox Church in the
creation of the country
and the stripes are for
the Aegean Sea. Also,
there are nine stripes
for each letter of the
Greek word for freedom,
Eleftheria.


Zito H Ellas!
Eleftheria H Thanatos!
What is March 25?
Today it is a double holiday for
the Greeks.

March 25 is the Annunciation of
the Theotokos in the Greek
Orthodox Church. This is the
day that the Archangel Gabriel
told Mary that she would have a
baby.

On this day in 1821, Bishop
Germanos of Patras raised the
flag for revolution against the
Turks, marking the beginning of
the War of Independence.

Krypta Sxoleia
Kryfa Sxoleia
This song refers to secret
schools boys would attend in
Greece, under the Ottoman
occupation between the 15th
through the 19th centuries. They
weren't allowed to learn the
Greek language and about
Christianity - so they had to
learn about them in secret at
night.


Krypta Sxoleia
FEGGARAKI MOU LAMBRO MY LITTLE SHINING MOON

Feggaraki mou lambro My Little Shining Moon
Fegge mou na perpato Shine for me so I can walk
na pigeno sto scholio So I can go to school
na matheno grammata, to learn my lessons
(letters),
grammata, spouthagmata reading and writing
tou Theou ta pragmata. God´s lessons


How do Greeks and Greek-Americans
celebrate Greek Independence Day?

Boston Parade Video


Greek Easter
Easter is the most important holiday celebrated by the Greek
people.
Greek Orthodox Easter is based on the Julian calender, while the
Western Easter (Catholic, Protestant, etc..) is based on the
Gregorian calender. So, usually, the Easters do not happen on
the same day. For instance in 2010, it was!


Greek Lent

• Carnival or Apokria is celebrated for
three weeks before Clean Monday or Ash
Monday (Kathara Deftera), which marks
the beginning of Greek Orthodox Lent.
Apokria (apo-kreo) literally means to
say goodbye to the period of meat
eating. On Clean Monday, people eat
fish, vegetables and bread called
Lagana/λαγάνα-

• During Lent, Greek Orthodox people are
not supposed to eat meat and on some
days it is forbidden to eat dairy and
oil.

Greek Lent
Clean Monday Foods
Dolmades - grape leaves stuffed with
rice
Octopus, calamari, squid, “soupies”
(cuttlefish)
Taramosalata - fish dip


Holy Thursday/Megali Pempti

Eggs are dyed the color bright
red as a symbol of Greek Easter.
The tradition says that the
Virgin Mary dyed eggs this color
to celebrate the blood of
Christ, the Resurrection of
Christ, and to celebrate life.

Also, a traditional bread called
tsoureki is made.

In the two islands of Corfu and
Zakynthos, water pitchers are
thrown into the street to bring
good luck.


Tsoureki

http://www.cocinandoconcatman.com/2012/0
3/tsoureki-pan-dulce-griego-de-
pascua.html?utm_source=BP_recent

Holy Friday / Megali Paraskebi

Flags are brought to half mast
to mark the sadness of the day

There is a Procession of the
Epitaphios of Christ around the
outside of the church.
Epitaphios is coffin, so it is a
ritual lamentation or mourning
of the death of Christ.

Holy Saturday / Megalo Sabbato

People go to church around 11
p.m. and at 12, the church bells
ring and the people turn on
candles called lampadas and say
a traditional chant, "Christos
Anesti" -- Christ is Risen.


Holy Saturday / Megalo
Sabbato
After church, some people bring
the candles lit to their home to
bless it or go directly to a
family member s house to eat.
The main foods right after
church are a soup called
"Magirista", which is made of
lamb intestines, eggs and lemon,
and tsoureki.

This is also the time to place a
traditional Egg Breaking Game.
Each person takes a red egg and
challenges other people. The
breaking of the eggs symbolizes
Christ breaking from the Tomb.
The winner has good luck for the
year. www.teachingenglishbyfran.blogspot.com

Easter Sunday / Paskha

• We say "Kalo Pas`kha"...Happy
Easter.

• The main dish is a lamb that is
roasted on a spit. It is served
in honor of the Lamb of God, who
was sacrificed and rose again.


• Thanks to Sophia Grammenos for sharing this
presentation, for being Greek-American, and a real
friend.


Greek independence day and Greek Easter

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Greek independence day and Greek Easter