Queens Gazette

Happy Eastern Orthodox Easter


Orthodox Easter is this coming Sunday, April 24, and it will be celebrated all over the world by Eastern Orthodox Christians, including Greek Orthodox adherents, the largest group in the USA with over one and a half million members, according to familysearch.org. While the date is based on the Julian calendar, unlike the Western Christian Easter which is based on the Gregorian calendar, and traditions are slightly different, the meaning is the same.

The belief is that Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday in order to save the souls of the faithful, and he rose again in three days, on Easter Sunday. His Resurrection is appropriately celebrated during the time we all enjoy a “resurrection” of sorts, of the natural world with springtime bringing sunshine, warmth, green blossoms and flowers back everywhere, and the birth of all kinds of animals in the wild, symbolized by Easter eggs in baskets of straw, or newly sprouted green grass.

Greek Easter traditions include celebrating Midnight Mass on Saturday night, walking home with lit candles, if possible; and on Sunday breaking the Lenten fast with Greek lamb, goat, kokoretsi, magiritsa, wine, tsoureki bread, honey-sweetened pastries, and red-dyed eggs for cracking; while visiting family, friends, dancing, and having all-around good times.

The Gazette wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Easter, and Kalo Pascha!

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