Epistle from Cyprus XI - 5th April 2007

The Easter Build-up

It was early this morning and I was in the shower and I could hear a groups of kids coming down the road as they were making so much noise. Suddenly there was a beating at the door and ringing of the door bell sufficient to raise the dead. My immediate thought was that it was one of the traditions were children visit all the houses in the neighbourhood and extort goodies and money with an implied threat of violence or vandalism. This is much in the mould of the child's Christmas wish list that closely resembles a list of hijackers demands (suitcase with $2 million in unmarked notes, plane ready fuelled with pilot...oh and a Playstation and a new bike).

When we lived in Sweden they had a similar Easter tradition were children would dress as the Påsk Kärring (Poask Sherring) or Easter Witch and take a basket from door to door to gather sweets, eggs and other goodies.

Mr Grumpy eventually stepped from the shower and quickly dressed so as to avoid embarrassment and possible arrest. Of course by the time I got to the door the children were already several streets distant so I prepared for the worst and opened the front door to inspect the damage.
There on the doorstep was a small bundle with a decorated cellophane wrapper. Inside bundle was a small loaf of Tsoureki (Easter Bread) and 2 Kokkina Paschalina Avga (red painted Easter eggs).

Then there was the slow realisation that here the children are actually delivering gifts instead than demanding money with menaces.

My Easter Easter Bread and Red Eggs

I mentioned in a previous note that Easter rather Christmas is the big Greek Orthodox celebration. The preparations have been going on since the beginning of Lent on what is called Cleansing Monday. Each Sunday a large load of wood is delivered to outside the church in preparation for a large bonfire and fireworks celebration on Easter Saturday night. The wood is usually in the form of a tree trunk complete with roots. These are frequently dragged along the roads or on the back of pickup trucks and made into large piles.

On the way to Agiou Georgiou Church

Each church will have their own bonfire and it is a matter of some pride as to which village church has the largest bonfire. This leads to a deal of intrigue. Raids on other village bonfires are quite common. This is either to supplement your own bonfire or for commercial reasons. Firewood of any description is valuable here in Cyprus where they do not yet have their own supplies of coal, oil or natural gas.

The stash of one of the local rivals

These raids serve as a good excuse for the village boys to form vigilante groups to guard their own bonfire. They camp out in the evening next to the bonfire with the barbecue and associated party and loud music that goes with it. With such revelry it is not surprising that nights are punctuated with the sound of explosions as the boys let off steam and fireworks. Hilary has not been impressed with the consequent lack of sleep.

Well the Easter build-up has been so good I for one am looking forward to the main event.

Glad Påsk

Καλό Πάσχα

Paşte Fericit

Happy Easter