Associated Press reports from Athens that for the first time in three years, Greeks were able to celebrate Orthodox Easter without the restrictions made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic.
Beyond the obvious religious messages, in Greece, Easter signifies a return to the countryside, often to people’s ancestral homes, and a mass exodus from large cities.
In 2020, there was a total lockdown; in 2021, some dared leave the cities, often in violation of long-distance travel rules. Police had set up roadblocks on national roads to turn offenders around and impose fines.
A variety of customs, some predating Christianity, were marked locally. Friday evening’s solemn procession of decorated funeral biers, or Epitaphs, once again was fully attended.
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