Happy Easter!
Yeah, I know.... I'm late, for most of the world. But in our Greek Orthodox Church, we have a different calendar to most of Europe. Good Friday was yesterday, and Palm Sunday is just coming up. Here in Cyprus, Easter is the biggest celebration of the year - much bigger than Christmas, and certainly bigger than anyones birthday (which by the way, we celebrate name-day's instead, usually =))
There are big processions through the city streets, and literally thousands of people line up outside the church at midnight on saturday night (today!) to have a candle lit - its really beautiful, to see the candlelight spreading out like a wave in the darkness from one candle that the priest lights. Then the congregation will attempt to carry the candle, it, back to their homes to bring good luck and good health to their family for the next year. The following morning, they will eat their first meal after fasting for 40 days, (having no butter, or wheat, or many other things.) the food having been taken to the church on thursday to be blessed.
Its a really big, fun time of year, so I just wanted to say to everyone - " Ευτυχές Πάσχα!" (Happy Easter!)
Comments
Happy!!!!! Happy Easter!!!!!!
Posted by: katkat | April 23, 2006 05:24 AM
How is naming day differet from a birthday?
Posted by: YummY! | April 24, 2006 03:35 AM
Weeeell, a birthday is the day you are born on, whereas a name day corresponds to whichever day of the calendar represents your name. They usually correspond to saints. For example, all of the 'Andreas' might celebrate on 18th may. And all of the 'YummY's' on...uhhh... 25th December, birthday of St. YummY. And so on =)
Posted by: Seraphim | April 24, 2006 09:17 AM
Ah, okay. I think I understand. I thought maybe name day was the vcelebration of the day you were named, which I though usually was the day you were born so that birthday and name day would be the same.
-grin-
Posted by: YummY! | April 24, 2006 06:12 PM
Nameday is celebrating day which has your name attached to it. All names are after christian saints of various sort. There are usually a few days for each name (e.g i can celebrate nameday on 11 September, along with my birthday, thanks to my dad who wanted to cut down on presents, or somwhere in May or April). Usually you celebrate nameday which is closest to your birthday. Obviously each day has several names otherwise they'd run out of days in year. As far as i know namedays aren't celebrated anywhere in western Europe and that's probably why ppl from USA dont know about it at all. There, so that you know.
Posted by: Brongar | April 24, 2006 11:30 PM