希臘人怎過復活節? 燒烤全羊

Recap of May 2005
2005年的復活節泰狄熊因要工作關系，我們在希臘渡過了一個難忘的復活節。
東正教信徒於復活節前四＋天己奉行齋戒沐浴，他們只吃麵包、逗類食物，直到復活日晚上的彌撤。東正教信徒慶祝復活節，一如中國人慶祝農歷新年。
The Orthodox celebrate Easter  as important as our new year and they  have to observe Lent 40 days before Easter. That means they are not allowed to eat meat, fish, eggs  for almost 6 weeks before Good Friday.
 
希臘人怎過星期五 Good Friday？

一般東正教徒於星期五午夜上教堂，那天晚上在電視上看到在雅典舉行的苦路彌撤。每年的苦路彌撤，也有運送十字架的苦路過程 Via Crucis，昨天說過意大利也有這樣的儀式，象徵耶穌由耶路撒冷 運送十字架到 Mt Golgota 的苦路過程。不只意大利、希臘 ，世界各如巴西、西班牙、菲律賓也有相同的儀式啊！
當中希臘與西班牙的十字架好像是大一點。又是上萬名信徒們手提燃燒著蠟竹， 追隨著十字架，很壯觀啊！

 
復活日晚上的彌撤

星期六午夜晚上在彌撤，東正教信徒每人手持著二寸長的蠟燭往教堂參與崇拜，在二個多小時的彌撤接近尾聲時，也像羅馬天主教般有一項燃點蠟燭儀式，象徵信念的燃點 (the lighting of the faith)，當時所有燈光熄滅，神父在黑漆漆的教堂燃點著第一枝蠟燭，然後再傳給傍邊的神父、司祭，再由神父、司祭再續一傳送給教堂內的每一位信徒，象徵信念的傳播，最後整個教堂被燭光燃亮著，那種氣氛很感人呀！

彌撤完結後，Syros 市中心燃放著煙花慶祝，不只Syros, 雅典、Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Patras, Thessalonniki…也有啊！
On Saturday night Greeks attend a midnight mass and each of them carried a long candle (as long as 2-3 m). Candle lighting takes places at the end of the Easter mass. In an entire darkness environment, a single flame is used to light the candles held by worshippers, it was then passing one by one to everyone in the church.  No wonder I saw very long candles selling at the supermarket and also in some churches!! The entire experience was very pleasant and  touching ! Fire works were made on squares in the evening to mark the celebration, in our island big fire display was made in front of the harbor. Not only in Athen, also at  Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes , Patras, Thessalonniki！

Easter Sunday 
傳統上希臘人是與家人歡渡復活節的，他們聚在郊外的房子一起燒烤全小羊，用一條長金屬棒吊著全隻小羊吊著，然後兩邊有人在把小羊轉動，好像北京烤鴨般；由星期日早上開始擺陣，需要約四、五小時便可烤熟小羊，

可吃午餐了，他們的午餐一般是下午二時後才開始啊！

According to the tradition, every family was gathered together at their home in country side for the celebration of end of Lent.  Roast whole lamb on a giant spit over charcoal are made for lunch on Easter Sunday in the open air or  their country house.
我們那天晚上看到週街 (TV)也有希臘人燒烤全小羊，真是沒有誇大的！

I was told whoever walking by, can go to join those persons who is roasting the lamb on the street or in the village. Just feel free to  say hi !


那來這麼多小全羊呢？

包租婆 Irina 告訴我們那些小羊來自保加利亞 、羅馬尼亞。

怪不得每年復活節的期間，法國、意大利的羊肉那麼貴了，

給希臘抄貴晒!!
唉！可憐的代罪羔羊。
  
Oh !! how many lamb will be killed ?? It is  the first day that they can eat meat after the 40 days of Lent . They start roasting the lamb in the morning on Sunday and it takes about 4-5 hours to have the whole lamb cook  and is  a  pure family activites and they also dance (greek folk dance) after the meal.  

Continue tomorrow for our Easter BBQ