Blog Post #1

Greek Easter.

For many, these two words are synonymous with the eighth wonder of the world. For the rest, it is about time to go to a Greek Easter celebration.

Easter in the US is generally considered a celebration for the children. The Easter Bunny hops around to hide some eggs, and the kids run around chasing each other, searching under every single nook and cranny for the concealed colorful ovals like they are in the newest Indiana Jones film. Meanwhile, the parents just chat amongst themselves about the months that have gone by since the last big celebration, which is most likely New Year’s.

But, go to a Greek family for Easter, and the scene is completely different. Adults are in a circle dancing to traditional Greek music that blasts from brand new speakers the family is trying to show off to their friends. Children hold the hands of their parents and dance to their own rhythm, causing a roar of laughter to erupt from the adults. The Greek word for this kind of party is γλéντι (glendi), and it is something you can never truly experience from an American celebration.

Anyone who has watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding knows that Greeks do not chat around the table. We are loud, obnoxious, and cause such a ruckus, police probably mistake groups of Greeks as a street riot. Everyone is more than happy to share the latest jokes they heard or the juiciest rumors flowing around the Greek community. Apparently no one ever taught us the rule of only talking to your neighbors at the dinner table, because we Greeks yell across the table just for the purpose of yelling. The best part about the conversation around the table is that everyone acts like they have been together their whole lives. It matters not if people have been away for months or years in the farthest reaches of the globe, or even if a complete stranger shows up; everyone is treated like family.

But, how can one even begin to talk about Greek Easter without mentioning all of the food? It seems to come out from everywhere. Food is found in piles, flowing over the edge of the table. It is found on large trays that try to set physical boundaries for the seemingly limitless nourishment. Most of the time, it can be found for a brief instant racing towards an open mouth, before it is lost forever. Greeks have been known to cook way too much food during meals, and Easter is their chance to abuse the stereotype.

One sight that is impossible to skip with over with your eyes is the lamb roasting on a spit. Well, that is if you can push and shove your way through the crowd before it has been completely devoured. It is skewered with a pole and put on the spit early in the morning. The lamb turns ever so slowly, juices dripping out from the browning meat. The lamb is a tease.

It tempts any onlookers, turning them into stone as they are entranced by the sight, much like Medusa of ancient Greek mythology. As the day goes by, a few growling stomachs convince their owners to pick at the juicy lamb like starving vultures pick at week-old flesh. The risk-takers are left with burnt fingers and tongues after their actions.

It is worth it.

Americans like to dye their Easter eggs in a million different colors, creating designs and patterns that inspire awe. Greeks keep it simple. We have one color: red. Eggs are dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ, which is, of course, the reason Easter exists in the first place. Another scene In My Big Fat Greek Wedding shows Toula teaching Ian some Greek phrases. The phrases are Χρηστóς ανéστη (Christos anesti), meaning Christ has risen, and αληθóς ανéστη (alithos anesti), meaning truly he has risen.

It is Greek tradition to have a pseudo-tournament similar to “rock, paper, scissors” where two people grab one egg each and proceed to hit the other egg while saying the two previous phrases. One tip hits another tip, then one butt hits the other, and if there is a tie, then the remaining sides are collided into one another. The winner is the one whose egg remains intact after the battle. The winner can then challenge others, building up his or her ego, until it is finally broken. I had an unstoppable egg last year that took out over a dozen people before my brother’s girlfriend brought my hopes and dreams crashing down with her third egg. Each person is only supposed to use one egg, but the game is so much fun, people always cheat. No one ever finishes their eggs after the game. There are too many.

There is one food that truly makes Greek Easter unique. It is called μαγειρíτσα (magiritsa). Anyone unfamiliar with this soup needs to try it out before he or she is told the ingredients. They are not for the faint of heart—or stomach for that matter. It can contain lamb liver, lungs, heart, intestines, and even feet. Greeks love lamb. Some stereotypes are definitely true. The soup also includes an egg and lemon juice mixture along with a few greens and spices. When cooked properly, this meal leaves your taste buds feeling like they just resurrected with Christ himself.

There is just one bad thing about Greek Easter: the guilt the morning after. Easter celebration usually occurs at lunch, and it is so big that dinner is skipped. The remnants can still be felt rumbling around in stomachs across the world. Every Greek seems to have the same slogan on Easter: “My diet starts tomorrow.”

Attending a Greek Easter celebration is one item that should be on every person’s checklist of things to do. From the palatable food to the warm-hearted people, the whole experience is very inviting. This one day is truly something spectacular.

Too bad there are 364 others in between...

"Red Eggs." Photograph. (n.d.) From accordingtofiona.com. http://accordingtofiona.blogspot.com/2007/08/headless-chicken-and-her-red-eggs.html (accessed Sep 4, 2009)

"Mageiritsa." Photograph. (n.d.) From santonet.gr http://www.santonet.gr/restaurants/recipe_mageiritsa.htm (accessed Sep 4, 2009)