One of the most special times for Orthodox Christendom & Hellenism is upon us as Greeks around the world prepare to celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter! Obviously, like last year, depending on the country and location, the pandemic might place limitations on how we will observe the religious ceremonies and how we will celebrate Easter Sunday.
Hopefully, most of us will have the opportunity to have a joyous Easter Sunday outdoors – one that always attracts the genuine curiosity and admiration of non-Greek passersby who can feel how special the occasion is and are almost compelled to join!
Staying connected to Hellenism
In whatever form – whether “regular” or “virtual” - we may get together with friends and family this year, our hearts and minds will rejoice by connecting with our roots, our traditions, and Hellenism, just the same.
Although, unfortunately for them, Easter Sunday does not include presents, children are excited by the festive social gathering- and especially cracking the red eggs! as well as the large variety of food! Apart from this, although they might be too young to fully comprehend why, they are aware that there is something “unique” about Easter Sunday that makes the day more important than birthdays, parties, and picnics.
Easter Sunday also offers kids a prime opportunity to practice speaking Greek as well as listening to other using the language. To help them learn more about Easter while boosting their Greek, we’ve put together a new Easter collection featuring Easter songs, videos, print-outs, puzzles, quizzes, and games. It’s also an especially great opportunity to greet their grandparents and other relatives, in Greek.
Staying in touch with Greece
For Greeks who have left Greece in recent years for employment or study purposes, Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations, in many cases, offer a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with country-fellows as well as with foreign-born Greeks.
As most Greeks who have lived abroad can attest to, when a group of Greeks get together, at times it is hard not to forget that you are not back in Greece. On Easter Sunday this feeling is “magnified” – we feel that Greece is always within us. It is also a great way of introducing non-Greek friends and significant others to the most important Greek festival. And as most can attest to, non-Greeks are usually very excited by the festive and friendly environment they encounter on a Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday celebration.
The occasion offers Greek kids the opportunity to meet with other Greek and mixed-Greek kids outside of Greek school and create new friendships that could last a lifetime. In fact, kids taking our Online Live Classes report being very happy about meeting other Greek kids from around the world during online class-time! We are very honored to play even a small part in strengthening Greek Diaspora ties, and we believe it’s truly wonderful for Diaspora kids to connect through learning Greek online, or at festivities like Orthodox Easter Sunday.
Passing on our legacy
Whether born in Greece, Australia, the US, the UK, Easter Sunday is an occasion that brings Hellenism together like no other time of the year. Apart from the day’s religious aspect, the occasion brings with it a feeling of spending Easter in a picturesque Greek village in the countryside with friends and family – as it has been for centuries. This is part of our heritage and the legacy we are proud to pass on to our children in addition to learning Greek.
On behalf of the whole team at Ellinopoula, wishing you a Very Happy Easter!
ΚΑΛΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ!!!
