Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Starbucks 'Trenta': How The New Size Compares To Your Stomach
We realize we may seem a little holiday-fixated around here. But one Easter has yet to come: Orthodox Easter, which falls on this coming Sunday, April 19. The use of two calendars often results in different timing in Western Easter's and Orthodox Easter's arrivals, which makes the day truly a movable feast.
Why is this worth a certain amount of hoopla? Well, look at the hunger pang-inducing bread shown above. One of the centerpieces of the Greek Orthodox Easter table, tsoureki paschalino (tsoo-REH-kee pahs-khah-lee-NO), or Greek Easter bread, is typically baked on Holy Thursday and traditionally shaped in a braid around an Easter egg. (The deep red dye symbolizes the crucifixion.) Tsoureki, a light yeast bread sometimes sweetened with a light touch of orange or almonds, has an airy, eggy texture similar to challah. A similar bread known as pinza is a mainstay on Italian Easter tables.
Within the Greek Orthodox church, Easter is considered by many to be the holiest day of the year. For many celebrants the period of Lent is one of self-discipline and self-purification during which one might refrain from treats or certain animal products. Additionally, on some days (traditionally Wednesdays and Fridays during the first weeks of Lent and every day during Holy Week) both wine and olive oil are also forbidden. The first post-Lenten meal is served after midnight Mass on Holy Saturday, where the traditional meal consists of mayeritsa (a soup made from the internal organs of the Easter lamb) and the deep maroon-dyed eggs that are part of the tsoureki.
Tsoureki is available in Greek bakeries; try this one, which ships its tsoureki.
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Editorial: Engadget on the Xbox One
Parents Face Tough Choice When Tornadoes Bear Down
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
The Story Behind Hairspray
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Bridge Collapses In Washington State
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
The World's Most Powerful Women
Who Won 'DWTS'?
4-14-2009 @7:01PM srebrina said... All right, I read this website all the time, and it's not the first time I see ignorance in here, but can you please remember once and for all that it's not just Greece out there in this foreign place called eastern Europe...Are you aware the Russia is also Orthodox? And also Bulgaria and about 15 other countries? It's the 'feta cheese' dillema all over again. You prove that Americans are ignorant. And besides before there was anything else there was only Orthodox Christianity. Can you believe it?
Reply
4-15-2009 @2:56AM SaraFist said... I was just thinking how nice it was to see an acknowledgment of Orthodox traditions, even if only the Greek were mentioned. The red egg is a potent symbol throughout the Orthodox Christian world, and there are many more amazing specialties such as kulich.
Reply
4-15-2009 @5:44AM Irina said... Here's the kulich recipe of our parish (Russian Orthodox of the Patriarchate of Constantinople): http://www.valdyas.org/irina/purplishcookingpages/recipes/feast/kulich.html (with a link to the pascha recipe).
Reply
4-16-2009 @1:43PM ION said... the Greeks live it up during Easter - i was invited at a friend's house during the Greek Orthodox Easter and they had all this stuff!The tsuriki bread with the egg in the middle! yum! i am so glad I found this because I keep asking them to invite me this Easter which is this weekend i heard! and the greek feta cheese? they put it on everything! yum i am getting hungry can't wait to have the roasted lamb too - and they dance! oh boy!
Reply
4-16-2009 @4:34PM Creole said... I am Greek Orthodox and I am from Uganda - we are a small community in Kampala and we manage to survice our faith and eat this bread during our Easter and Christmas. During Easter we also cook Magiritsa, a very tasty soup and we put greek feta in it but it is not available in Kampala.It is very tasty and it reminds me of childhood. Kali Anastasi everyone-my dream is to visit Greece during Easter.
Reply