Easter Celebrations in Corfu Town 2013

CORFU TOWN - KERKYRA

The processions are a mix of ecclesiastical, civic and military pomp.

This year Orthodox Easter celebrations fell on the first weekend in May - a good 5 weeks after the Western celebrations.  The weather was beautiful, just right for exploring old Corfu town and witnessing their famous religious ceremonies.  Each church has its own procession and band.

Holy week is taken seriously with many religious traditions but they start in earnest on Good Friday. Band music is very popular on the island, apparently there are 17 bands in  Corfu town alone.

After nightfall a procession leaves the Cathedral, hundreds march - solemn school children, scouts, town dignitaries, priests and bishops.  The music played by the bands is very solemn to reflect Christ's death.

 Saturday morning the bands are still playing ..........

The remains of St Spyridon (Corfu's Patron Saint) are paraded around the town in a gold casket

St Spyridon came from Constantinople but practised in Corfu, he was known as the miracle worker delivering the locals from famine, or some stories say from the plague.

The celebrations attract visitors from all over Greece - it is the place to celebrate Orthodox Easter.

Procession about to turn onto the Spianada - buildings are tall and gracious.........

However the celebrations aren't just religious - there's the famous pot throwing ceremony which takes place at 11.00 am.

We were standing in the 'cricket ground' amidst crowds of excited youngsters

Afterwards the streets are strewn with terracotta debris........

The streets are cleared and pots are hurled from the upper floors - it's a miracle that no one gets hurt.  Of course there's much hilarity and excitement as the pots fall to the ground.  The origins of this custom are  unclear - some say the collective noise of the pots falling at 11.00 am drives away evil spirits, allowing  Spring to be a time of renewal, others claim that the sound signifies the opening of Christ's tomb.

The bands lift their mood, funereal dirges cease and light hearted jolly themes suceed..... You can see me in the tuba's reflection, with my camera above the girl with sunglasses!

The buildings are tall and gracious reflecting 400 years of Venetian rule, followed by the French and British.

 a great yacht anchorage that we missed out on ,,,,,,,,, just below the old fort

There are two fortresses which partly suround the old town, the first - the Palaio Frourio (the old fortress) was built by the Venetians on the remains of a 12th century Byzantine castle.  I was told by a charming young taxi driver that this fortress had stood the test and had never been conquered. The other fortress was simply known as the new fortress.

Begona, Rosie and Cathy enjoying a moment away from the frantic crowds 

Terracotta dust on the elegant streets

We all felt quite exhausted after all those processions and pot throwing ceremonies so we sought refuge at a local restaurant for some sustenance.  Later we retired to the boat but the celebrations in town continued with a short Mid-night Mass followed by Corfu's famous fireworks - which of course we could hear.........