During the last years local cultural societies offer a great deal in the effort
to revive and register old customs that are only kept alive through nostalgic
narration of the old people. The customs and the traditions of the island's
inhabitants are undoubtedly connected with the religion feeling.
At every Christianic holiday for example at Christmas the tradition revives with
traditional sweets ( melomakarona, kourambiedes etc ), the traditional carols,
the
decoration
of a tree or of a small boat, while in New Year's day is accompanied with
customs as the "podariko" - breaking a pomegranate at the
central door of the house - the bringing of holy water without speaking
from Virgin Mary's church, the traditional vasilopita ( special cake ),presents
and wishes among relatives and friends.
Easter is accompanie
d with special traditional sweets ( tsourekia, koulouria etc
) and the painting of boiled eggs with red color. During Holy Friday churches
decorate the "epitaphs" with flowers and late at night the
"epitaphs" is carried around the church while the Christians with
candles sing religious hymns. At midnight churches celebrate the Resurrection of
Christ under the light of candles,
with fireworks and afterwards celebrations with music, drink and food.
A
week after Easter the custom of burning an effigy of Judas revives at many
villages. Also other significant matters of the daily life as the birth,
the marriage and the baptism are accompanied by a rich plethora of customs.
For example even today marriage is connected with customs as the cooking
of almond sweets (
amigdalota, baklavas etc ), the cutting
of a "tsourecki" ( traditional sweet ) on the bride's head
covered with red cloth, traditional music accompanying the couple to the church,
the celebration after the marriage etc.