Greek Easter did not coincide with the Catholic Easter this year (or perhaps the Catholic Easter did not coincide with Greek Easter!). Whatever. Without trying to open old religious wounds - in short - Easter Sunday in Greece was 27th April.

The whole weekend was a little disappointing weather wise, with grey skies and cool temperatures. Friday evening was extremely crowded at all the churches who had prepared an epitaphios.

Analypsi epitaphios walked from Kokinaria to the Possidonian

Crowds followed an epitaphios from their chosen church (Ayios Yiannis in Kounoupitsa, Analypsi in Kokinaria, Ayios Nikolaos in the old harbour and Ayios Adonis on the Dapia). Ayios Nikolaos epitaphios had fewer flowers this Easter as recently renovated and re-painted gold for all to see

Each epitaphios was held high, with their candlelit followers close behind, and were carried in the procession to the Possidonian jetty. Ayios Antonis from the church on the Dapia hoists its epitaphios

Most converged on the Dapia beforehand, where yet more crowds and Ayios Antonis followers were waiting.Ayios Yiannis was proudly carried through from Kounoupitsa Despite the sombre occasion, the evening held a special air of excitement and anticipation.

Saturday day, shopping, shopping and more shopping - much like Tesco's on a rainy English afternoon. However, no such comparisons could be made on Saturday night, as once again, crowds gathered to wait with their white candles or celebratory candles, at their chosen churches. When the services were over and at midnight exactly, fireworks (mainly 'bangers') were thrown and there was much rejoicing as people thronged together to shake hands and kiss their family members and friends and proclaim that 'Christ has risen'. They then all rushed away as soon as the clock stuck twelve o' one, to swiftly end their days of fasting and gorge on traditional Magherítsa soup, Greek lamb and red eggs.

Sunday had been predicted to have 'Christmas' weather, so perhaps everyone got off lightly. Well, they did until about 6pm, when the heavens opened and it poured with rain! Still, most people had eaten their lamb by then, with most spits on the go from about 6am. So 12 hours was indeed enough time to spit roast, prepare accompanying dishes, open the wine, dance and then chill out.

On Monday, those that had to get back to work, found that the jetty was the place for gathering, and there indeed, there were no candles, baskets of red eggs and celebrations, as most people were on their way back to work.

And here's a toast for the roast next year!

Text by Lucy Paraskeva.
Photographs by Ros Forster