An “explosive” Easter Saturday custom on the eastern Aegean Island of Chios (Hios) whereby residents of two Church parishes exchange “rocket fire” with fireworks again attracted visitors from around the world and waiting television crews.
The custom features “rocketeers” in the village of Vrontados: on the one side from the Panaghia (The All-Holy Virgin) Erithiani parish and the other from the Aghios (St.) Markos parish, exchanging volleys on the evening of Great and Holy Easter Saturday, also known as Resurrection Saturday.
Thousands of fireworks fired at either direction lit up the night sky at near midnight on Saturday, as shown by images circulated by chios photos.