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Greece / Corfu Island / Corfu Traditions – Celebrations, Customs and Event on Corfu (Kerkyra) Island, Greece
Corfu - Greek Traditions, Holidays, Customs & Events in Corfu (Korfu, Kerkyra) Greece
Tradition is a very important element of Corfu Island and its inhabitants. Naturally, the island has been influenced by Greek, Venetian, French and British cultures that make Corfu (Kerkyra, Korfu) traditions and customs quite unique .
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During
carnival time, Corfu puts on a spectacular celebration that
fuses both the Ancient Greek paganistic worship of the Olympian god
Dionysos and the Venetian carnival spirit, making it one of the most
impressive carnivals in the world. It is a time full of music,
celebration, bright costumes and laughter.
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| EASTER IN CORFU (KERKYRA) |
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Easter in Corfu is a special event, not only because of the religious meaning of Easter, but also due to the fact that it is a time that both Orthodox and Catholic faiths celebrate, especially on the island of Corfu.
Good Friday is the day of the Epitafios (a reenactment of the burial of
Christ). In the evening, the churches take their funeral bier through
the streets, as people follow with candles in their hands, along with
the Philharmonic Orchestra and choirs. Another custom of Corfiot Easter
is to throw pots from windows in the morning of Holy Saturday. At night
time the Catholic Church first holds its service that finishes in time
for the Greek Orthodox service and the Resurrection. In Corfu (Kerkyra)
the service is held on Splianada Square. When the bells chime midnight
for the Resurrection of Christ, then a celebration begins, with
fireworks, orchestral music and singing. An abundance of wine is
consumed and local Easter dishes are served such as red eggs, fogatsa,
tsilichourda and columbines. In the morning, the churches take the icon
of the Resurrection through the town streets.
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The inhabitants of Corfu Island have great religious faith. Every year the churches hold litanies in honor of the Saints. The most significant is the litany of Saint Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu (Kerkyra), on Holy Saturday.
» Some others are: the Litany on Vaion Sunday, the
Protokyriako Litany (held on the last Sunday of November), Saint
Spyridon's Litany on August 11th and the Litany of Santa Theodora on
Orthodox Sunday.
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Throughout the year, fairs and festivals are held in almost every settlement and town on Corfu (Kerkyra, Korfu). The fairs and festivals are wonderful celebrations with music, food, traditional costume and dance.
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Corfu 's cuisine is a mixture of Greek and Western tastes, with elements of Mediterranean cuisine and many herbs and spices.
Some of the most popular local dishes are: Pastitsada (beef or cock in red sauce), Sofrito (beef strips with a white garlic and wine sauce), Savoro (fish in a white vinegar, garlic and spices sauce), Bourdetto (fish in a red spicy sauce), egg-lemon soup (served on religious holidays), Kota bolida paragiomisti (the New Year's day traditional dish with chicken), Tsilichourda (the Easter soup with entrails), Country - made sausages, Salami, the Koum-Kouat fruit (made into preserves and beverages) Freskamenta (or a prickly pear), Mandoles (roasted and caramelized almond clusters), Mandolato (sweet clusters made of sesame, almonds, honey, sugar and rosewater), Colombina (Corfu Christmas cake) and Gingerbeer (soda with lemon, ginger and raisin syrup).
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Corfu is famous for its lovely ceramics, handicrafts, weavings and woodcarvings as well as its sweets such as mandoles, mandolato and koum-kouat preserves. Some areas of Corfu (Kerkyra, Korfu) also produce delicious honey, wine and ouzo .
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