Easter
Easter at Corfu is the greatest religious festivity of the year, celebrated with a glory and splendour not seen anywhere else in the world.
Starting from Lazarus Saturday and for eight days leading up to the great Resurrection Mass itself, believers experience the greatness of the Lord, his divine martyrdom and finally his resurrection. Corfiot local customs and rituals, found nowhere else, form a unique mosaic of tradition, culture and natural beauty. This solemn atmosphere is very emotional for locals and foreigners alike. A local particularity is the polyphonic ecclesiastical music pouring out of the Corfiot churches to the small alleys of the city and the suburbs. The residents of Corfu call Easter Lambri of Lambria (Bright) expressing this way the symbolic spiritual brightness of the day. Easter in Corfu is bright beyond all expectations and it is a great reason to visit Corfu during spring.
The Greek Orthodox Church bases its liturgy on the Julian calendar, as opposed to the Gregorian version, so Easter in Greece can take place one up to five weeks after the celebrations of western churches. In 2019 - Greek Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday - April 28th, one week after western Easter which falls on April 21st. One consequence of this “late” Easter is that the weather is usually excellent and everyone can enjoy the many joys of spring.
Celebrations with all the customs that attract enormous interest will begin on Lazarus Saturday at April 20nd, to culminate on Friday with the epitaphs, the Great Saturday with Resurrection at midnight in the largest square in Europe Esplanade, and at Easter Sunday with the big feast, continuing until Sunday of Thomas at 5th of May, when the weather will be like summer already.
The first week of May also may be appropriate for visits to the many beautiful beaches of Corfu.
