Greek families traditionally roast whole lamb for Easter over an open charcoal fire. The lamb is placed on a large spit called a "souvla" that is about 8-9 feet long and turned constantly over 6 hours of cooking. Roasting whole lamb on Easter symbolizes religious meanings in both Jewish and Christian traditions, representing the end of slavery in Egypt and the hardships and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Greece, Easter is the largest holiday and roasting whole lamb on a spit is a popular tradition.

1. 2 Lyceum of Trikala GREECE
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Greek Spit Roasted Whole Lamb
Easter in Greece is the biggest holiday of the year and most every family roasts a lamb.
Every family has its idea of the best way to cook the Easter meal but in general the animal is spitted and
cooked over an open charcoal bed for about 6 hours. Constant turning of the “souvla” , Greek word for the
spit, is required so if the family is traditional and doesn’t use an electric motor a lot of friends come in
handy.
The “souvla” is about 89 feet long with a
handle for turning on
one end. It’s placed on
a pair of spikes driven
into the ground about 7
feet apart.
If you try this recipe, start a charcoal bed about 6x2 before preparing the lamb or kid and have a separate
charcoal fire going to add to the bed later on. By the time you get the animal prepared the fire should be just
about right. You’ll probably need 20 pounds, or more, of charcoal to complete the cooking. Have more than
you need on hand.
The history of Lamb on Easter
Throughout the world the most popular Easter symbol is the Lamb. The reference to lamb in Christianity
goes back to the book of Genesis, when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son.
In past centuries it was considered a lucky omen to meet a lamb, especially at Easter time. It was a popular
superstition that the devil, who could take the form of all other animals, was never allowed to appear in the
shape of a lamb because of its religious symbolism.
In the 7th century the Benedictine monks wrote a prayer for the blessing of lambs.
A few hundred years later the pope adopted it as a WHOLE roasted lamb became the feature of the Pope’s
Easter Dinner, and has been ever since.
The traditional spit of lamb on Easter Sunday is a Jewish celebration that was adopted by Christians. It
symbolizes the end of Isralians’ slavery in Egypt and their exodus to Hanaan land
Christians celebrate Easter for the hardships and Resurrection of Christ, the “God’s lamb”as John Baptist
called Him. It acquired also another symbolism; it shows the passage from death and sorrow in life to the
happiness…
In Greece Easter is the biggest holiday and apparently most everyone roasts a whole lamb on a
“Souvla” which is a large spit. If you are interested in doing a traditional Greek roasted lamb, they say it
is good to have plenty of