European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 16, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Food at easter by Sharon Hudgins special to sir Loci Magazine t his year easier will be cd Lebrato a by christians throughout the world on sunday aprim9.� Thill in Ijichi seem obvious except that Western Liri Slian churches both  Ami protestant observe  Dale  by the Gregorian Calendar whereas Tali m orthodox Christian churches celebrate on a tinle set by the Julian Calendar. These a Horian and Julian dates for taster Don i usually coincide sometimes they rec Van ,1 in nah apart bul tills is one1 of the years in who in easier for both Eastern mid Western churches is observed on the m me sunday. In Greece when the greek orthodox Church holds , 1 Aster is the most important religious  of the year surpassing even Christmas. Truly devout a t a fast during the 411 Days prior to easter sunday giving up ill foods containing meat fish Clu t is Butler eggs milk or . Holy week immediately preceding easter ii a period of  solemnity with Church services performed twice Jay. On Maundy thursday three  in t Ore faster eggs Are Dowl red to symbolize Ilic drops of Christ s blon special easter bread is baked and the last sup pct is commemorated at Ali urites throughout the country. Good Friday is a Day if total fasting and abstention 1 non work. Churches Are drape d in Black their floors strewn Wilh Bay leaves. Bells kill. A special mass is i i i my 1 at Sundown followed in some parts of the i Mutry by i  easter meats to Tome. At Midnight on saturday at every orthodox Church in Greece hundreds even thousands of people each holding a Long while Candle  for the special faster mass the highlight of the Church year tin religious service reaches its Climax just before Midnight. All of the Church s lights Are turned off. As the Cluck strikes twelve the priest in lies a Candle i Ami .1 Light that is always Kepi burning on the altar. Hillel ii turns and lights the candles of the people standing near him who pass Hie flame to the persons nearest them and so on even to the people outside who could t Squeve a into the crowded Church. As the priest proclaims Cir Sjoni Neili Christ h Riu the crowd replies Alilam Neili truly he is risen. Hundreds of fireworks explode around the exterior of the Church combining Wilh the Light of tin i indies to produce a joyous Celebration of rebirth and renewal. After the Church service Ever Yum returns Home each person still carrying a lighted Candle. Tradition has in that whoever arrives Home Wilh his Candle still lil will have Good Luck throughout he year. Another custom requires that As each Memoir of the household enters the front door. In must use the smoke from his Candle to make i he sign of a Cross tin the lop of the doorway. The easier Midnight dinner Sitf Nils the end of the Long lenten fast. The meal begins Wilh rij.j#c�ril5. A special Ioup Marie Only at taster  Chicken Stock eggs Lemon juice onions herbs and several parts mostly innards of the Lamb that will be spit roasted the next Day for easier Tuncill. Oiler traditional foods include  called Tsu Urt it Kij on Crete which Are easier Shortbread cookies made in Many shapes rings twists pretzels Slicks Etc. And easter fast Vas cake made from Semolina Buller and eggs and Flavoured with cinnamon almonds and sugar syrup a special Sweet easier bread known As Sou eur or Imbro promo and the red dyed easier eggs that were prepared on Maundy thursday a Isth a eggs in Greece Are coloured Only solid red. In addition to their use As a food to break the lenten . They also symbolize Bolh Christ s blood and his resurrection. In every greek orthodox household Ilu easier Midnight dinner begins with a ritual cracking of these eggs signifying the loosening of Bond and the Start of a new life. Each person lakes a red a a from the communal bowl. He turns to his neighbor red egg in hand and usus his own egg to Lap inc other person s egg pointed end to pointed end or round end to round end. The person whose egg remains unc racked has the right to Challenge someone else s As yet unc racked Eim ind so on until Only Une  egg remains. Presumably Beni thu Ink Truhn by buy Dunn the Holder of that cab will  in Rune during the rest of the year red easier eggs Ore also used As decorations on the traditional breach that Are made at this Lime of year. Greek easter bread known  is Unur Eki and More specifically As ambro Portio is a festive Sweet bread full of butter milk and eggs and Flavoured with Orange Peel Lemon pee and spices. Made in the form of a Long braid ,1  Wreath or a round loaf with bread dough decorations greek easter bread always has one or More red dyed eggs pressed Inlo the lop of the dough in fore baking. No greek easter feast would be Complete without this special bread with its Many symbols ii red eggs the braid representing he holy Trinity