Greek Easter food and traditions: a journey of discovery

Easter, called Pascha in Greek, is one of the most important and vibrant celebrations in Greece, marked by unique traditions, deep religious significance and – of course! – an array of traditional foods. Unlike Easter celebrations in many Western countries, Greek Easter traditions involve a variety of customs that are deeply entrenched in both cultural heritage and Orthodox Christian practices. This includes everything from the solemn rituals of Holy Week to the festive atmosphere of Easter Sunday, with food playing a central role in the celebrations. In this article, we will delve into the rich traditions of Greek Easter, focusing on both the iconic foods – some of which are naturally gluten free! – and the special customs like the Greek Easter red eggs. Ready to start your journey?

The significance of Greek Easter

Easter in Greece is a time of reflection and religious observance but also a celebration of life and community. The festivities are particularly colorful and joyful, encapsulating the spirit of rebirth and renewal that Easter symbolizes. One of the most distinctive features of Greek Easter is its date, which is determined by the Julian calendar used by the Greek Orthodox Church, often resulting in a different celebration date compared to the Gregorian calendar used in the West. For example: in 2024, Catholic Easter was on March 31st and Orthodox Easter on May 5th!

Traditional Greek Easter foods: let’s dig in

What is a celebration without the proper amount of mouthwatering food? Our overview of Greek Easter traditions starts exactly from there: the Easter table. And worry not: several traditional Easter foods are naturally gluten free – although, yes, you might find some of them a bit weird…

1. Tsoureki

Let’s start from the gluten-full food though, to give you the bad and the good news at once!

Tsoureki is a sweet, brioche-like bread, traditionally flavored with mastiha (mastic resin) and mahlepi (mahaleb cherry seeds). It’s definitely a staple Greek Easter food. Standard tsoureki is made with wheat flour, as we anticipated, but gluten free versions can be prepared using gluten free flour. Of course it’s not the easiest thing to bake – but guess where you can taste it without needing to spend time in the kitchen experimenting? Yes, you guessed it right: at Rhodes Gluten Free you can find gluten free tsoureki by Marinos Kosmas, even beyond the Easter period.

2. Koulourakia

Another tasty Greek Easter food that you can find at Rhodes Gluten Free all year round are koulourakia. These are butter cookies twisted into various shapes and typically – but not only – served during Easter. Of course the traditional version is not gluten free… but ours (again by Marinos Kosmas) is!

3. Lamb

As in other Easter traditions, roasted lamb is the centerpiece of the Easter Sunday meal in Greece too. The lamb is typically seasoned with herbs like oregano and thyme, lemon juice and olive oil, and roasted as a whole on the fire. As a naturally gluten-free dish, it’s safe for everyone at the feast.

4. Kokoretsi

Here we move to the “weird Greek Easter foods” side. Kokoretsi involves skewered and grilled intestines of lamb, wrapped around seasoned offal. Kokoretsi is also gluten-free, as long as no breadcrumbs or other flour are used in the filling – which is usually not the case. For sure it’s not a dish for everyone, but if you’re a curious eater (like us) then you should try it!

5. Magiritsa

Magiritsa is a soup traditionally made to break the fast of Lent and is eaten after the midnight church service on Holy Saturday. It consists of lamb offal – including weird weird ones, like eyes – and greens, seasoned with dill and thickened with an avgolemono (egg-lemon) sauce. This Greek Easter food is naturally gluten-free, making it suitable for those avoiding gluten… those with a strong enough stomach, at least. Although we must say that in modern days you can find “easy” versions of this soup, without offal.

6. Greek Easter red eggs

Last but not least, a food that is deeply rooted in Greek Easter traditions: the hard-boiled eggs, dyed in red color, are also naturally gluten-free. We will see soon how they are served and what to do with them – besides eating them, of course.

Tips for enjoying a gluten free Greek Easter

If you happen to spend Easter in Greece and you’re attending a celebratory dinner or lunch as a gluten free person, here are some useful tips:

• communicate your dietary restrictions to the host in advance, explaining exactly what you need;
• prepare gluten free dishes separately to avoid cross-contamination, in case your host does not feel safe cooking gluten free in their kitchen;
• use clearly labeled ingredients and check for hidden gluten in pre-packaged items… but this, as you know, is not only valid for Greek Easter food!

Curious Greek Easter traditions you’ll love

Moving past Greek Easter foods, it’s time to explore some unique traditions that will make you smile. We won’t dive into the classic religious ones like services and processions, but we will stick to the most curious ones – the ones you wouldn’t expect.

Greek Easter red eggs

One of the most iconic traditions is the dyeing and cracking of red eggs – yes, the same red eggs we mentioned among the Greek Easter foods. These eggs are dyed on Holy Thursday (or bought from the supermarket already boiled and dyed) and represent the blood of Christ and His resurrection.

The game of cracking eggs on Greek Easter, or tsougrisma, involves two people tapping their eggs against each other. The owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky. You will want to experience this tradition if you are going to spend Easter in Greece!

Gifting candles

The gifting of candles, particularly during the midnight service of the Resurrection (Anastasi), is a significant tradition in Greek Easter celebrations. These candles, often referred to as lambades, are usually large, ornately decorated candles and are commonly given to children by their godparents. The candles are beautifully adorned with ribbons, flowers and sometimes icons or other religious and festive symbols.

The tradition of giving lambades is steeped in symbolism. The candle represents the light of the Resurrection, echoing the church ritual where the Holy Light from the church is shared among the congregation, spreading from one candle to another. Lighting these candles at midnight is a deeply symbolic act, reflecting the passage from darkness (sin and death) to light (salvation and life).

Children typically carry these candles during the midnight service, and after the service, they bring them home still lit, which is believed to bring the blessing of the Resurrection into the house. It’s also customary to use the candle to make a smoky cross above the doorway as a protection and blessing for the house for the year.

Gifting shoes

Another Greek Easter tradition involves gifting shoes, though it’s less universal than the gifting of candles. This custom is particularly practiced by godparents who provide new shoes to their godchildren for the Easter Sunday celebrations. It signifies a fresh start and renewal, which are central themes of Easter. The new shoes are meant to symbolize the godchildren stepping into a new life phase, refreshed and renewed, much like nature rejuvenates itself in spring.

In some families, the shoes are given along with the candles on Holy Saturday or even earlier during Holy Week, preparing the children for the midnight Resurrection service and the celebrations that follow on Easter Sunday. These gifts from the godparents are cherished tokens of love, care and spiritual guidance.

The end of our journey through Greek Easter foods and traditions

Greek Easter is a celebration rich with culinary delights and meaningful traditions, of which you had a taste through our article. If you are managing celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and heading to Greece for Easter, now you know that you will be able to enjoy many traditional Greek Easter foods in their original or gluten free version.

If you’re visiting Greece later on and you still want to try some delights such as tsoureki and koulourakia, come to Rhodes Gluten Free and you’ll have that chance! We wait for you, and in the meanwhile we wish you a festive and inclusive Orthodox Easter that embodies the spirit of this special holiday.

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