Experience Easter in the Greek Islands from a Luxury Yacht

By Charlotte Ashley 2 March 2015

Awash with celebration and local customs, the vibrant streets of Greece are the place to be to absorb ancient Easter traditions this April. YachtCharterFleet put the spotlight on Crete for planning a Greece luxury yacht charter at this enchanting time of year.

The most important holiday for the East Mediterranean charter hotspot, Easter, or ‘Paska,’each year the beautiful Orthodox church buildings become a hub of activity on every island. This year’s Easter celebrations fall on Sunday 12 April 2015, in conjunction with the Julian calendar - a week after the standard western Easter holiday.

plan a greece luxury yacht charter to see easter celebrated in orthodox churche

plan a crete luxury yacht charter this easter in greece

A spectacular show of fireworks accompany the bonfire for the pinnacle of the week's events - the 'Holy Flame' - at Lake of Agios Nikolaos

In Crete the beginning of a two-week occasion starts on the week of Monday 6 April, during ‘Holy Week’ where locals’ fasting means delicious seafood and vegetarian cuisine takes precedence, with ‘koulourakia’ (freshly-baked Easter biscuits) and ‘kalitsounia’ (cheese pies) prepared for Easter Sunday and the end of fasting.

A more reflective atmosphere arrives by Good Friday on 10 April, where church bells ring out and evening services are attended by locals. The island is set alight by a bonfire on Holy Saturday on 11 April, for which local children can be seen preparing sticks and branches for in the day. A spectacular show of fireworks accompany the bonfire for the pinnacle of the week's events - the 'Holy Flame' - at Lake of Agios Nikolaos (near the town centre) which occurs at midnight once priest arrive from their 11pm service - for which churches across Greece are full for. Midnight celebrations at local tavernas with live music follow the ‘Anastasi’ (resurrection).

plan an easter luxury yacht charter in greece this april

Feasting is on the agenda by Easter Sunday on 12 April, where a traditional spit roast lamb takes centre stage as Greeks celebrate across the country, with local delicacies, wine, music and dancing aplenty – the ‘more the merrier’ is very much the attitude. Locals also compete to be the last one holding an uncracked egg as red-dyed eggs as part of a long-standing tradition of throwing them at each other – the winner is said to be blessed with good luck.

The festivities area quite a spectacle to see, and with shops and most museums closed, it is an extraordinary time to visit and enjoy the simple, traditional way of life Greece is renowned for.

With unrivalled natural beauty from its white-sand beaches to its pastel-coloured cliffs, and special traditions unique to Greece, its islands offer the perfect combination of culture and scenery.

For more details about planning an Easter vacation in Greece, contact your preferred charter broker.

Alternatively, view all luxury yachts for charter in Greece to find the ideal vessel for your needs.