As it happens yearly, there are certain weekends in Greece where the city is “dead” or empty. Since I will also be celebrating Easter (and found it pointless to divert you to non-holiday activities), here are your weekly recommendations with an at-home twist!
Resurrection Festivities to see: Neos Kosmos
If you’ve never experienced Anastasi (The Resurrection) in Athens, there are a few areas that are well-known for their impressive fireworks. Or also literal fires, in the case of Neos Kosmos. Right outside the Church of Ascension on Lagoumitzi Street, hundreds of molotov cocktails rain down creating a raging flame as fireworks light up the sky.
Neos Kosmos is infamous in Athens for its explosive Easter celebration.
A petrol bomb explode during celebrations for the Orthodox Easter at the church of Saint George in Athens, Greece on April 15, 2023.
Lycabettus Hill
For those of us who are more skittish, but enjoy a good fireworks show, Mount Lycabettus is the best place to be on the night of The Resurrection. With the Athenian panorama at your feet, you can experience the largest fireworks display of the year from a safe distance. Different parts of the sky will light up as churches tend to finish their processions a few intervals apart from each other.
If you have a way to get up the hill with your lambada (the big candle we use to collect the Holy Light) painlessly, it will be especially worth it on Saturday.
Creative things to do: DIYs To Spend Your Easter Together
Do you also have an avid egg consumer at home? In this case the non-chocolate kind? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself with extra egg cartons ’cause you decided to dye some this year. The holidays are generally a great excuse to take a break from our usual adult responsibilities. Why not do so with some arts and crafts? These bunny portraits are fun for the whole family and a way to get in the Easter spirit.
In case that feels a little too childish for you, there are some more grown-up crafts you can take on. Like this daffodil bouquet.
Easter bites to eat: Argiro’s Easter ‘Koulourakia’
My childhood favorites, the smell of these biscuits always brings back fond memories. These ‘koulourakia’ cannot be missing from your Easter breakfast as they are exceptionally good when dunked in coffee. It also helps that even I, a novice in the kitchen, can successfully make them.
Dolmadakia Yalantzi (Stuffed Grape Leaves)
Another classic, though not quite as Easter-y. For anyone wanting to add a savory touch to their table with a very Greek recipe.
One final Easter egg: From me, to you
Take this long weekend to do things you love to do. Familial obligations and traditions aside, it’s very rare we actually use even an ounce of free time for ourselves exclusively. This Easter, as you’ve probably been able to tell by this post, I plan to do just that. Enjoy some time away, do group activities but also relax.
Do not be afraid to spend a weekend not thinking. Focus your energy on the Easter feast, fun and let go of the rest!
