My favorite time of the year is here again. Unlike a large portion of the world, which bows to the magic of Christmas – I kid you not – my favorite holiday season has always been Easter. Something about spring, something about big family tables and traditions in the village, I still look forward to these special days every year.

Part of the answer to why I love Easter so much, I got from talking to people who spend these days in the big urban centers. There, they barely understand sometimes the festive days that pass. The truth is that big cities “dress up” impressively at Christmas, so weak they look when it comes time to celebrate Easter. They lack something of tradition, of local color.

On the contrary, in the villages and islands of Greece, traditions follow each other, and each day of Holy Week consists of its own customs. All the small places honor these festive days, each according to their custom. So this year, make your getaway these days. Leave your everyday life behind for a while and travel to mainland or island Greece, where people will show you how to really enjoy these days.

And if you have no ideas about where to go, we reveal some of the best destinations to celebrate this year’s Easter:

  • In Chios to experience the explosive rocket war

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The noisiest of the Easter traditions is the one that takes place in Chios. The fifth largest island of Greece is famous for the wonderful celebration of the Holy Days of Easter, especially for the characteristic custom, the Rocket Battle, which takes place on the evening of Holy Saturday in the village of Vrontados.

This…explosive tradition dates back to the time of Turkish rule. So, according to the famous Chiot custom, thousands of rockets light up the night sky in a spectacular display, as two rival “camps” target the bell tower of the church of Agios Markos and the clock of Panagia Erithiani, respectively, turning the sky into a field of big, bright celebration.

The best place to enjoy this unique sight is the top of Mount Aipos. Despite the objections that have been expressed from time to time regarding the dangerousness of the custom, the rocket battle remains one of the most popular Easter traditions in Greece, being a major attraction for travelers.

  • In Corfu to be captivated by Botides and the philharmonic

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It is no coincidence that the capital of the Ionian Islands is considered a destination – synonymous with Easter. Its spectacular customs are what make it stand out this time of year.

The processions of the epitaphs leave in a fixed order from each Temple, with the final destination being the center of the City, where they intersect. An immersive atmosphere of doom is created as the atmosphere is filled with the mournful melodies of the city’s three oldest philharmonics: The red one, the “Old” Philharmonic, plays Albinoni’s Adagio, the blue one, the “Mantzaros” philharmonic, Marcia Funebre by G .Verdi and the philharmonic “Capodistrias” Elegia Funebre, Mariani’s Sventura and Chopin’s mournful passage.

On the morning of Holy Saturday, the most famous Easter custom of the island takes place, the “Botides”. The oppressive atmosphere of the previous night gives way to a lively action: The people of Corfu go out on their balconies and throw the clay jugs at the feet of the passers-by. This custom symbolizes the First Resurrection in the church of Panagia ton Xenos, representing the earthquake that happened, according to the Bible, at the tomb of Jesus. The philharmonics are back in action, but this time playing cheerful encores.

  • In Syros for the touching union of Orthodox and Catholics

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In Syros, every Easter a unique union takes place: Orthodox and Catholics celebrate the holy days together. The inhabitants of the island have decided, in this way, to convey an important message: on such days we must put aside our differences and become one. On the evening of Good Friday, the procession of the epitaphs of the island takes place. Orthodox and Catholics finally meet in the center of the island, Miaouli Square, in front of the City Hall, in a rare, worldwide, snapshot.

  • In Leonidio for bright balloons and wishes

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Leonidio is the birthplace of a custom that has been particularly loved and is practiced today in many parts of the country. The reason for the famous “Night of Balloons”, a custom that seems to come from sailors, who saw similar spectacles on their travels and “brought” it to Greece.

Local children take on the task of preparing the balloons weeks before Easter, adding color and lots of love. On the night of the Resurrection, the residents of Leonidio set fire to the special construction and release hundreds of balloons into the sky. The sight is simply mesmerizing. The custom says that the colorful balloons symbolize people’s wishes, which travel to the sky in the hope of being heard.

  • In Patmos for the ceremony of the Holy Washbasin

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The island of the Apocalypse is consistently confused with religious devotion and one of the reasons that reinforce its status as a destination of faith is its Easter customs. Holy Week in Patmos is undeniably a unique experience. On the morning of Maundy Thursday, the ceremony of the Washbasin takes place, which is essentially a representation of the Last Supper. The abbot washes the feet of twelve monks sitting around the great platform, just as Jesus did with his disciples. The following day, the Deposition takes place in the Monastery of Agios Ioannis, while the same evening, all the epitaphs meet in the squares of Skala and Chora. The custom of Easter Sunday is also remarkable, when the Gospel is read in seven languages.

  • In Hydra for the marine epitaph

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Hydra is characterized by a religious tradition, which is lost in the depths of time and promises anyone who visits it to experience a different Easter. The most beautiful custom that takes place here is the procession of the Epitaph of the parish church of Agios Ioannis the Forerunner in the beautiful district of Kaminia in Hydra, which ends in the sea. More specifically, the Easter custom of Hydra wants the faithful to participate in a unique ceremony, where the procession of the Epitaph is led into the sea waters, with the aim of blessing and sanctifying the waters of the island.

  • In Ioannina for the epitaph competition

One of the most entertaining Easter customs takes place in the city of Ioannina, whose residents indulge in… an Epitaph contest. The epitaphs, like those of churches, have a “beauty contest”, claiming the prize of the best epitaph. The most beautiful wins and makes his followers happy. Naturally, anyone who travels to Ioannina at Easter can expect to see some of the country’s most impressive Epitaphs, which are at the same time proof of the region’s rich cultural heritage.