Sensations Completion
Corfu, the beautiful island of the Ionian Sea, is now directly intertwined with the days of Easter as its events and customs create a unique experience of religious devotion and uplifting that every visitor wants to live and relive. Easter in Corfu is unforgettable and a great reason to visit the island in spring. The festivities with all the customs that attract huge interest will start on Palm Sunday
on April 21, where the traditional procession of the Tabernacle of St. Spyridon takes place, culminating on Good Friday with the processions of the epitaphs, on Holy Saturday with the Resurrection at midnight in the largest square in Europe, Spianada, and on Easter Sunday, continuing until Thomas Sunday on May 5.
The Botides and the custom of Mastelas
Holy Week in Corfu has a particularly solemn character, however, the events and customs of Holy Saturday are perhaps the best Easter moments on the island.
They start at 6 am where in the Church of Our Lady of the Foreigners the artificial “earthquake” is performed in representation of the earthquake that took place according to the New Testament at the Resurrection. They continue with the procession of the epitaph of the Church of St. Spyridon and the
first resurrection. It is the moment when the most famous custom, the Botides, is revived, which all visitors and local residents are waiting for and which only happens in Corfu. From all the balconies and in every house on the island, the inhabitants throw large clay jugs or pitchers full of water into the street at the same time that all the church bells
they ring joyfully. The custom of “Mastella” is immediately
after the first Resurrection in a place called Pinias, which is where the old shopping centre of the city used to be. Days before, the Piniadors have placed an open large barrel (Mastela) full of water decorated with palm trees and myrtles. Those passing by had to throw in at least one coin. At the moment of the first Resurrection, the piniadores are chasing to catch someone to throw him into the Mastela. Usually he’ll fall in as the philharmonic bands and a lot of people are passing by. He then rained on all the people and the musicians together, but on his way out he took all the money that had fallen to Mastella. The Resurrection service is held outside at the Palco of the Upper Square, with the Bishop and the participation of the authorities, all the philharmonic bands and thousands of people. The feast continues all night long with cooking called “tzilihourda”, with plenty of wine, Easter buns, “fogatses” and “kolobines”.
WHAT TO DO
Although the rich events for the celebrations of the Resurrection of Christ in Corfu Town are enough to fill your time and soul with unique experiences, for those of you who have a little more time on the island, there are beautiful routes that you can
to follow on foot or by bike. Pantokratoras, southern Corfu next to the lagoon of Korissia up to the cedar forest, the area of Paleokastritsa, northern Corfu towards the lagoon
Antiniotis are all amazing routes that will fill your spring getaway with unique images.
DON’T LEAVE IF…
do not try the rich Corfiot cuisine with pastitsada, cigareoli and sofrito, the delicious mantolas, fogacia and the sweets with kumquat, this golden fruit with the aromatic skin and sweet taste that came from China to thrive in the North of Greece.
of the island.
