¶∞π¢π ∞ÓÔÈÍÈ¿ÙÈΘ ™Î·ÓÙ·ÏȤ˜! ◊ÚıÂ Ë ¿ÓÔÈÍË ·ÓÔ›Í·Ó Ù· ÏÔ˘ÏÔ‡‰È· ÛÙȘ ÂÍÔ¯¤˜ ·˜ ÙÚ¤ÍÔ˘Ì Ì Á¤ÏÈ· Î·È ÙÚ·ÁÔ‡‰È· ∞¶√ ∆∏ ™√º∏ ∫ø∆∆∏ ¶∞π¢∞°ø°√ ∂π∫√¡√°ƒ∞º∏™∏ §π∞¡∞ ¢∂¡∂∑∞∫∏ ·fi ÙÔ ‚È‚Ï›Ô «∏ ™Î·ÓÙ·ÏÈ¿ Ù˘ ÕÓÔÈ͢» Ù˘ ¡Ù›Ó·˜ ÷Ù˙ËÓÈÎÔÏ¿Ô˘, ∂ΉfiÛÂȘ «ÌÈÎÚ‹ ª›ÏËÙÔ˜». Playful Spring! Million flowers blossom birds sing our souls are flooded with colors and smells BY SOPHIE KOTTI, EDUCATOR PICTURES BY LIANA DENEZAKI from the book, "Mischievous Spring" by Dina Hadjinikolalou, mikri Militos Editions. 60 OnBlue OnBlue 61 ¶∞π¢π ¶ ¿ÂÈ Ô ‚·Ú‡˜ ¯ÂÈÌÒÓ·˜, Î·È Ì·˙› ÙÔ˘ ¿ÂÈ Î·È Ë ·ÛڛϷ ÙÔ˘ ¯ÈÔÓÈÔ‡ Î·È ÙÔ ÁÎÚ›˙Ô ÙÔ˘ Ô˘Ú·ÓÔ‡, ÔÈ ÔÏϤ˜ ‚ÚÔ¯¤˜ Î·È Ù· Á˘ÌÓ¿ ÎÏ·ÚÈ¿ ÙˆÓ ‰¤ÓÙÚˆÓ. ∆Ë ı¤ÛË fiÏˆÓ ·˘ÙÒÓ ·›ÚÓÔ˘Ó Ù· Ôχ¯ÚˆÌ· ÏÔ˘ÏÔ‡‰È·, Ù· Ê˘ÏÏ·Ú¿ÎÈ· ÙˆÓ ‰¤ÓÙÚˆÓ Ô˘ ÛοÓ ‰ÂÈÏ¿ ‰ÂÈÏ¿, Ô ‹ÏÈÔ˜ Ô˘ Ì·˜ ˙ÂÛÙ·›ÓÂÈ Î·È Ì·˜ ÎÚ·Ù¿ Û˘ÓÙÚÔÊÈ¿ ÁÈ· ÈÔ Ôχ ÒÚ·, ÙÔ ··Ïfi ·ÂÚ¿ÎÈ, ÔÈ ÁÏ˘Î¤˜ ·ÓÔÈÍÈ¿ÙÈΘ ‰ÚÔÛÂÚ¤˜ ‚Ú·‰È¤˜ Î·È Ù· ¯ÂÏȉfiÓÈ· Ô˘ Á‡ÚÈÛ·Ó ÁÈ· Ó· ¯Ù›ÛÔ˘Ó ÙȘ ʈÏȤ˜ ÙÔ˘˜. ª·˙› Ì ÙË Ê‡ÛË Ô˘ ÌÂÙ·ÌÔÚÊÒÓÂÙ·È ·ÏÏ¿˙ÂÈ Î·È Ë ‰È¿ıÂÛ‹ Ì·˜. µÁ·›ÓÔ˘Ì ·fi ÙÔ Î·‚Ô‡ÎÈ Ì·˜, ÂÙ¿Ì ٷ ˙ÂÛÙ¿ Î·È ¯ÔÓÙÚ¿ ÚÔ‡¯·, ·›ÚÓÔ˘Ì ÂÓ¤ÚÁÂÈ· ·fi ÙËÓ ÔÌÔÚÊÈ¿ Ô˘ ·ÓÙÈÎÚ›˙Ô˘Ì Á‡Úˆ Ì·˜ Î·È Â›Ì·ÛÙ ÎÂÊ¿ÙÔÈ Î·È ÂÓÂÚÁËÙÈÎÔ›, ¤ÙÔÈÌÔÈ ÁÈ· ·ÓÔÈÍÈ¿ÙÈΘ ÛηÓÙ·ÏȤ˜! ∫·È ·ÊÔ‡ ÁÏÂÓÙ‹Û·Ì Ì ٷ ηÚÓ·‚¿ÏÈ· Î·È Ù· Ì·Ûηڤ̷ٷ ÂÙÔÈÌ·˙fiÌ·ÛÙ ÁÈ· ÙË ÌÂÁ·Ï‡ÙÂÚË ÁÈÔÚÙ‹ Ù˘ ¿ÓÔÈ͢, ÙÔ ¶¿Û¯·. ∫fiÎÎÈÓ· ·˘Á¿, ÎÔ˘ÏÔ‡ÚÈ·, ÙÛÔ˘Ú¤ÎÈ·, Ï·Ì¿‰Â˜, ‰ÒÚ·, ÛÙÂÊ¿ÓÈ·… °È·Ù› fï˜ ‚¿ÊÔ˘Ì ْ ·˘Á¿; ÁÈ·Ù› Ù· ‚¿ÊÔ˘Ì ÎfiÎÎÈÓ·; ™ÙÔ ÛËÌÂȈ̷ٿÚÈÔ Ù˘ Ë ÁÈ·ÁÈ¿ ∞ÏÂÍ¿Ó‰Ú· ÁÚ¿ÊÂÈ ˆ˜ ÙÔ ·˘Áfi Â›Ó·È Û‡Ì‚ÔÏÔ Ù˘ Á¤ÓÓËÛ˘ Î·È Ù˘ ˙ˆ‹˜. π‰È·›ÙÂÚ· ÁÈ· Ù· ÎfiÎÎÈÓ· ·˘Á¿ Ô˘ ‚¿ÊÔ˘Ì ÛÙËÓ ∂ÏÏ¿‰· ÙÔ ¶¿Û¯· ¿ÏÏÔÈ Ï¤Ó fiÙÈ ı˘Ì›˙Ô˘Ó ÙÔ ·›Ì· ÙÔ˘ ÃÚÈÛÙÔ‡, ¿- ÏÏÔÈ fiÙÈ Â›Ó·È ÙÔ ¯ÚÒÌ· Ù˘ ¯·Ú¿˜. ªÈ· Ï·˚΋ ·Ú¿‰ÔÛË Ï¤ÂÈ fiÙÈ fiÙ·Ó ·Ó·ÛÙ‹ıËÎÂ Ô ÃÚÈÛÙfi˜ ηÓ›˜ ‰ÂÓ ÙÔ ›ÛÙ¢Â. ªÈ· Á˘Ó·›Î· Ô˘ ÎÚ·ÙÔ‡Û ¤Ó· ηϿıÈ Ì ·˘Á¿ ›Â: «∞Ó Â›Ó·È ·Ï‹ıÂÈ· fiÙÈ ·Ó·ÛÙ‹ıËΠÌÔÚÔ‡Ó Ù· ·˘Á¿ ·fi ¿ÛÚ· Ó· Á›ÓÔ˘Ó ÎfiÎÎÈÓ·;» ∫·È ˆ ÙÔ˘ ı·‡Ì·ÙÔ˜ ¤ÁÈÓ·Ó fiÏ· ÎfiÎÎÈÓ·! ∂ÎÙfi˜ fï˜ ·fi ÎfiÎÎÈÓ· Ù· ‚¿ÊÔ˘ÌÂ Î·È ¿ÏÏ· ¯ÚÒÌ·Ù· ΛÙÚÈÓ·, Ú¿ÛÈÓ·, ÌÏÂ Î·È ÚÔ˙. «∆Ș ‚·Ê¤˜ ÙÒÚ· È· ·ÁÔÚ¿˙Ô˘Ó ¤ÙÔÈ̘ Ù· ·È‰È¿ ÌÔ˘ ·fi ÙÔ ÂÌfiÚÈÔ. ∂Ì›˜ Ù· ·ÏÈ¿ ¯ÚfiÓÈ· ÙȘ ÊÙÈ¿¯Ó·Ì ·fi ‰È¿ÊÔÚ· Ê˘Ù¿. ∞fi Ù· ÍÂÚ¿ ÎÚÂÌ̇‰È· ÊÙÈ¿¯Ó·Ì ÙÔ ÌÂÏ› ¯ÚÒÌ·, ·fi Ù· ʇÏÏ· ÙȘ ·Ì˘Á‰·ÏÈ¿˜ ÙÔ Î›ÙÚÈÓÔ Î·È ÙÔ ·ÓÔȯÙfi ÎfiÎÎÈÓÔ ·fi ··ÚÔ‡Ó˜» ÁÚ¿ÊÂÈ Ë ÁÈ·ÁÈ¿ ÛÙȘ ÛËÌÂÈÒÛÂȘ Ù˘. ∞˘Ùfi Ô˘ ‰ÂÓ ¤¯ÂÈ ·ÏÏ¿ÍÂÈ fï˜ ·fi Ù· ¯ÚfiÓÈ· Ù· ‰Èο Ù˘ Â›Ó·È ÙÔ fiÙÈ ÙË ªÂÁ¿ÏË ¶¤ÌÙË ‚¿ÊÔ˘Ì ٷ ·˘Á¿, fiˆ˜ Î·È ÙfiÙÂ. ™Â ÌÂÚÈο ̤ÚË Ù˘ ∂ÏÏ¿‰·˜ ÙÔ ÚÒÙÔ ·˘Áfi Ô˘ ‚¿ÊÂÙ·È Â›Ó·È Ù˘ ¶·Ó·Á›·˜ Î·È ÙÔ ‚¿˙Ô˘Ó ÛÙÔ ÂÈÎÔÓÔÛÙ¿ÛÈ. ªÂ ·˘Ùfi ÔÈ Ì·Ó¿‰Â˜ ÛÙ·˘ÚÒÓÔ˘Ó Ù· ·È‰È¿ ÙÔ˘˜ ÁÈ· Ó· Ù· ÚÔÊ˘Ï¿ÍÔ˘Ó ¤ÙÛÈ ·fi ÙȘ ·ÚÚÒÛÙȘ Î·È ÙÔ Î·Îfi Ì¿ÙÈ. ™Â ¿ÏÏ· ̤ÚË ÔÈ Î¿ÙÔÈÎÔÈ ¿Ó ÛÙËÓ ÂÎÎÏËÛ›· ÙfiÛ· ·˘Á¿ fiÛ· Ù· ̤ÏË Ù˘ ÔÈÎÔÁ¤ÓÂÈ·˜ ÁÈ· Ó· ‰È·‚·ÛÙÔ‡Ó ÛÙ· 12 ∂˘·ÁÁ¤ÏÈ·. ∆· ·Ê‹ÓÔ˘Ó Î¿Ùˆ ·fi ÙËÓ ∞Á›· ∆Ú¿Â˙· ̤¯ÚÈ ÙÔ ªÂÁ¿ÏÔ T he heavy winter has gone, and along with it the white of the snow and the grey of the sky, the rains and the bare branches of the trees. Their place has been taken by colourful flowers, the leaves on the trees that are timidly budding, the sun that warms us and keeps us company for many hours, the soft breeze, the sweet spring evenings and the swallows that have returned to build their nests. Our mood also changes, along with the changing nature. We come out from under our shells, throw off our thick, warm clothes, are energised by the beauty we see around us, and are cheerful and lively, ready for spring. And, after the carnivals and the parties, we start to prepare for the greatest spring celebration - Easter. Red eggs, cookies, tsoureki breads, candles, gifts, wreaths… But, why do we dye eggs, and why do we dye them red? In her notebook, grandmother Alexandra writes that the egg is a symbol of birth and of life. Some say that the red eggs represent the blood of Christ, and others say that they are the colour of joy. A tradition says that when Christ was resurrected no one believed it. A woman who was holding a basket of eggs said: "If it’s true that He has been ™¿‚‚·ÙÔ Î·È Ù· ·›ÚÓÔ˘Ó ÌÂÙ¿ ÙËÓ ∞Ó¿ÛÙ·ÛË. ∞˘Ù¿ Ù· ·˘Á¿ Â›Ó·È Â˘·ÁÁÂÏÈṲ̂ӷ. ∆· ÙÛfiÊÏÈ· ÙÔ˘˜ Ù· ·Ú¿¯ˆÓ·Ó ÛÙȘ Ú›˙˜ ÙˆÓ ‰¤Ó‰ÚˆÓ Î·È ÛÙÔ˘˜ ΋Ԣ˜ Ì ÙËÓ Â˘¯‹ «Ó· È¿ÛÔ˘Ó fiÏ· Ù· Ê˘Ù¤Ì·Ù·». ™ÙËÓ ∫¤Ú΢ڷ ÙË ªÂÁ¿ÏË ¶¤ÌÙË ÔÈ Î¿ÙÔÈÎÔÈ ÎÚÂÌÔ‡Ó ÎfiÎÎÈÓ· ‹ ÌÔÚÓÙfi Ì·ÎÚÈ¿ ·ÓÈ¿ ÛÙ· ·Ú¿ı˘Ú¿ ÙÔ˘˜ ÁÈ· Ó· ÂÈÎÔÈÓˆÓ‹ÛÔ˘Ó ÙÔ Ì‹Ó˘Ì· Ù˘ ÛÙ·‡ÚˆÛ˘ ÙÔ˘ ÃÚÈÛÙÔ‡. ∂›Û˘, ÙÔ Úˆ› ÙÔ˘ ªÂÁ¿ÏÔ˘ ™·‚‚¿ÙÔ˘, ÌÂÙ¿ ÙËÓ ÚÒÙË ∞Ó¿ÛÙ·ÛË, Û¿˙Ô˘Ó Î·Ó¿ÙÈ· ‹ÏÈÓ· ÁÈ· Ó· ʇÁÂÈ ÙÔ Î·Îfi ·fi ÙÔ Û›ÙÈ Î·È Ó· ¤ÚıÂÈ Ë Â˘ÏÔÁ›· Î·È Ë Î·ÏÔÛ‡ÓË. ∫·È ‚‚·›ˆ˜, ·˘Ùfi Ô˘ ‰ÂÓ ¤¯ÂÈ ·ÏÏ¿ÍÂÈ ·fi ÙÔÓ Î·ÈÚfi Ù˘ ÁÈ·ÁÈ¿˜ ∞ÏÂÍ¿Ó‰Ú·˜ ̤¯ÚÈ Û‹ÌÂÚ· Â›Ó·È Ë «Ì¿¯Ë» ÙÔ˘ ÙÛÔ˘ÁÎÚ›ÛÌ·ÙÔ˜ ÙˆÓ ·˘ÁÒÓ Ô˘ Á›ÓÂÙ·È ÛÙÔ ¶·Û¯·ÏÈÓfi ÙÚ·¤˙È ÙÔ ‚Ú¿‰˘ Ù˘ ∞Ó¿ÛÙ·Û˘ Î·È ÙËÓ ∫˘Úȷ΋ ÙÔ˘ ¶¿Û¯·, ÛÔ˘‚Ï›˙ÔÓÙ·˜ ÙÔ ·ÚÓ›! ¡ÔÌ›˙ˆ fï˜ fiÙÈ Ë ÁÈ·ÁÈ¿ ∞ÏÂÍ¿Ó‰Ú· ı· ·Ú·ÍÂÓ¢fiÙ·Ó Ôχ ·Ó ¤‚Ï ÙȘ Ï·Ì¿‰Â˜ Ô˘ ÎÚ·Ù¿Ì ÙÔ ‚Ú¿‰˘ Ù˘ ∞Ó¿ÛÙ·Û˘ ÛÙȘ ÂÎÎÏËۛ˜ Î·È ÓÔÌ›˙ˆ ˆ˜ ı· ›¯Â ·fiÏ˘ÙÔ ‰›ÎÈÔ. ∫Ô˘ÎÏ¿ÎÈ·, ·˘ÙÔÎÈÓËÙ¿ÎÈ·, ·È¯Ó›‰È· ÏÔÁÈÒÓ ÏÔÁÈÒÓ ÎÚ¤ÌÔÓÙ·È ·fi ÙÔ ÎÂÚ› Ô˘ ı· ·Ó¿„ÂÈ Ì ÙÔ ÕÁÈÔ ºˆ˜ ÁÈ· Ó· Ì·˜ Í·Ó·‰ÒÛÂÈ ÙÔ Ì‹Ó˘Ì· Ù˘ ÂÏ›‰·˜ Ù˘ ÂÈÚ‹Ó˘ Î·È Ù˘ ·Ó¿ÛÙ·Û˘. ∂›Ó·È fï˜ ÎÈ ·˘Ùfi ¤Ó· ÛËÌÂ›Ô ÙˆÓ Î·ÈÚÒÓ Ì·˜. ™ÙËÓ Î·Ú‰È¿ Ù˘ ¿ÓÔÈ͢ Â›Ó·È Ô ª¿ÈÔ˜! √ ÈÔ ÛηÓÙ·ÏÈ¿Ú˘ Ì‹Ó·˜. •¤ÚÂȘ fiÛ· ÔÓfiÌ·Ù· ¤¯ÂÈ; ∞ÓıÔÌ‹Ó·˜, §Ô˘ÏÔ˘‰¿˜, ∫·ÏÔÌ‹Ó·˜, ¶ÂÓÙÂÊ¿˜, ¶ÂÓÙԉ›ÏÈ- 62 OnBlue ÓÔ˜, ¶Ú¿ÛÈÓÔ˜, ÁÈ·Ù› Â›Ó·È fiÏ· Ú¿ÛÈÓ·, ∆ÚÈ·ÓÙ·Ê˘ÏÏ¿˜ ÁÈ·Ù› ÁÂÌ›˙ÂÈ Ô ÙfiÔ˜ ·fi ·ÓıÈṲ̂Ó˜ ÙÚÈ·ÓÙ·Ê˘ÏÏȤ˜. ∂›Ó·È Ô Ì‹Ó·˜ Ô˘ ÙfiÙ ΢ڛˆ˜ fiÏ· ˙ˆÓÙ·ÓÂ‡Ô˘Ó Î·È Í·Ó·ÁÂÓÓÈÔ‡ÓÙ·È. √ Ì‹Ó·˜ Ô˘ ʤÚÓÂÈ ÙË ¯·Ú¿ Î·È ÙË ÊÚÂÛο‰·. √ Ì‹Ó·˜ Ô˘ ‰›ÓÂÈ ÙËÓ ÂÏ›‰· ÁÈ· ÌÈ· ηϋ ÛÔ‰ÂÈ¿. ∫È fï˜ ·˘Ùfi˜ Ô Ì‹Ó·˜ ÙˆÓ ÏÔ˘ÏÔ˘‰ÈÒÓ Î·È Ù˘ ¯·Ú¿˜ Â›Ó·È Î·È Ô Ì‹Ó·˜ Ì ¤Ó· ÛˆÚfi ‰ÂÈÛȉ·ÈÌÔӛ˜ Î·È ¤Ó· ÛˆÚfi ·ÚfiÔÙ·. ∏ ∂ÏÏËÓÈ΋ ·Ú¿‰ÔÛË ı¤ÏÂÈ ÙÔÓ ª¿ÈÔ Ó· ÌËÓ ·ÓÙÚ‡ÔÓÙ·È ˙¢Á¿ÚÈ· Î·È Ó· ÌËÓ Îfi‚Ô˘Ó ÔÈ Ú·ÊÙ¿‰Â˜ Ù· ˘Ê¿ÛÌ·Ù¿ ÙÔ˘˜. ªÈ· ηٿڷ Ô˘ ÙË Ï¤Ó ΢ڛˆ˜ ÛÙ· ¢ˆ‰ÂοÓËÛ· Î·È Ì¿ÏÈÛÙ· ÛÙÔ ∫·ÛÙÂÏfiÚÈ˙Ô Â›Ó·È: «∏ ÒÚ· ÙÔ˘ ª¿Ë Ó· Û’ ‡ÚÂÈ». ∫·È ÌÈ· ∫ÚËÙÈ΋ ·ÚÔÈÌ›· ϤÂÈ: «√ Á¿ÌÔ˜ Ô ª·ÁÈ¿ÙÈÎÔ˜ ÔÏÏ¿ ηο ·Ô‰›‰ÂÈ». øÛÙfiÛÔ, ÂÌ›˜ ı· ÊÙÈ¿ÍÔ˘Ì ÙÔ ÛÙÂÊ¿ÓÈ Ì·˜ Ì ¯›ÏÈ· ‰˘Ô Ôχ¯ÚˆÌ· ÏÔ˘ÏÔ‡‰È· Î·È ı· ÙÔ ÎÚÂÌ¿ÛÔ˘Ì ÛÙËÓ fiÚÙ· Ì·˜ ÁÈ· Ó· ¿ÚÔ˘Ì ‰‡Ó·ÌË, ÔÌÔÚÊÈ¿ Î·È ‰ÚÔÛÈ¿ ·fi ÙË Ê‡ÛË. ™Â ÔÏÏ¿ ̤ÚË Ù˘ ∂ÏÏ¿‰·˜ ÁÈ· ηÏfi Î·È ÁÈ· ηÎfi ·Ó¿ÌÂÛ· ÛÙ· ·ÁÚÈÔÏÔ‡ÏÔ˘‰· Î·È Ù· ÙÚÈ·ÓÙ¿Ê˘ÏÏ· ‚¿˙Ô˘Ó ÎÈ ¤Ó· ÛÎfiÚ‰Ô ÁÈ· ÙË ‚·Ûηӛ·, ÎÈ ¤Ó· ·ÁοıÈ ÁÈ· Ó· ‰ÈÒ¯ÓÂÈ ÙÔÓ Â¯ıÚfi. ∞˘Ùfi ÙÔ ÛÙÂÊ¿ÓÈ ı· ÙÔ Î¿„Ô˘Ì ÛÙȘ ʈÙȤ˜ Ô˘ ·Ó¿‚Ô˘Ì ·Ú·ÌÔÓ‹ ÙÔ˘ ∞Ë °È¿ÓÓË ÙÔ˘ ¶ÚÔ‰ÚfiÌÔ˘ ÙÔÓ πÔ‡ÓÈÔ. ™Â ¿ÏÏ· ¿ÏÈ Ì¤ÚË ÙÔ ÛÙÂÊ¿ÓÈ Ù˘ ÚˆÙÔÌ·ÁÈ¿˜ Â›Ó·È ÊÙÈ·Á̤ÓÔ ·fi ‰ËÌËÙÚȷο ÁÈ· Ó· ʤÚÂÈ ÙË ‰‡Ó·ÌË Ù˘ ʇÛ˘ Î·È ÙËÓ ÂÏ›‰· ÌÈ·˜ ÏÔ‡ÛÈ·˜ ÛÔ‰ÂÈ¿˜ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ÁˆÚÁÔ‡˜. ∆ÔÓ ª¿ÈÔ ÔÈ ·ÁÚfiÙ˜ ·Ú·ÎÔÏÔ˘ıÔ‡Ó ÙÔÓ Î·ÈÚfi Ì ·ÁˆÓ›· Î·È resurrected, can these eggs become red?" And, the miracle happened, they all turned red! In addition to red, we dye eggs other colours – yellow, green, blue and pink. "My children buy ready dyes from the market. In the old days we would make them from various plants. We would make a honey colour from dried onions, yellow from almond leaves and pale red from poppies," grandmother writes in her notes. What hasn’t changed from her years is that we dye the eggs on maundy Thursday, as then. In some places in Greece, the first egg to be dyed is dedicated to Virgin Mary and placed in the icon stand. Mothers would make the sign of the cross on their children’s heads with this egg to protect them from illnesses and the evil eye. In other villages the locals take to church as many eggs as the members of the family. They leave them under the Holy Table until Saturday before Easter. These eggs are blessed. Their shells are buried among the tree roots and in the gardens, with the wish that "all these plants will grow." In Corfu on Good Friday, the people hang red or burgundy banners from their windows to pass on the message of Christ’s Crucifixion. On Saturday before Easter, they smash clay jugs to expel evil from the OnBlue 63 ¶∞π¢π ·Ú·Î·Ï¿Ó ӷ ÌË ‚Ú¤ÍÂÈ ‹ ÙÔ˘Ï¿¯ÈÛÙÔÓ Ó· ÌË ‚Ú¤ÍÂÈ Ôχ. ÷ڷÎÙËÚÈÛÙÈο ϤÓÂ: «ª¿Ë˜ ¿‚ÚÔ¯Ô˜, ÌÔ‡ÛÙÔ˜ ¿ÌÂÙÚÔ˜» Î·È «ÛÙÔ˘ ηٷڷ̤ÓÔ˘ ÙÔÓ ÙfiÔ ÙÔ ª¿Ë Ì‹Ó· ‚Ú¤¯ÂÈ». ∆ÔÓ ·ÏÈfi ηÈÚfi ÔÈ ¿ÓıÚˆÔÈ ›ÛÙ¢·Ó fiÙÈ ÙÔ ÓÂÚfi Ù˘ Ì·ÁÈ¿ÙÈ΢ ‚ÚÔ¯‹˜ ¤¯ÂÈ Ì·ÁÈ΋ ‰‡Ó·ÌË. ŒÙÛÈ ·Ó ¤‚Ú¯ ÙËÓ ÚˆÙÔÌ·ÁÈ¿ ÔÈ Á˘Ó·›Î˜ οıÔÓÙ·Ó Ì ̷ÏÏÈ¿ ͤÏÂη ÛÙË ‚ÚÔ¯‹ ÁÈ· Ó· ‚Ú·¯Ô‡Ó, Ó· ÊÔ˘ÓÙÒÛÔ˘Ó Î·È Ó· ‰˘Ó·ÌÒÛÔ˘Ó. ∞˘Ù‹ Â›Ó·È ÏÔÈfiÓ Ë ¿ÓÔÈÍË. ¶Ôχ¯ÚˆÌË, ÎÂÊ¿ÙË, Ì˘Úˆ‰¿ÙË, ˙ˆÓÙ·Ó‹ ηȅ ÛηÓÙ·ÏÈ¿Ú·! Œ‚Á· ¤Íˆ! Œ‚Á·! ¶ÂÚ¿ÙËÛ ÛÙË Ê‡ÛË. ™Î‡„ ¿Óˆ ·fi ÙÔ ÌÈÎÚfi ÏÔ˘ÏÔ˘‰¿ÎÈ. ÕÎÔ˘Û ÙÔ ıÚfiÈÛÌ· ÙˆÓ Ê‡ÏÏˆÓ ÙˆÓ ‰¤Ó‰ÚˆÓ Ô˘ ÛÔ˘ „Èı˘Ú›˙Ô˘Ó ÙÔ ‰ÈÎfi ÙÔ˘˜ ÙÚ·ÁÔ‡‰È. ¶·Ú·ÎÔÏÔ‡ıËÛ ٷ ¯ÂÏȉfiÓÈ· Ô˘ ¯Ù›˙Ô˘Ó ÙË ÊˆÏÈ¿ ÙÔ˘˜. ªË ‚È¿˙ÂÛ·È… µÚ˜ ¯ÚfiÓÔ Ó· ÁÂÏ¿ÛÂȘ. µÚ˜ ¯ÚfiÓÔ Ó· ÎÔÈÙ¿ÍÂȘ Á‡Úˆ ÛÔ˘. ¡ÈÒÛ ÙËÓ ·‡Ú· ÙÔ˘ ª·ÁÈÔ‡ Î·È Ù˘ Ó˘¯ÙÈ¿˜ ÙË Áχη. ÕÓÔÈÍ ÙËÓ Î·Ú‰È¿ ÛÔ˘. ÕÓÔÈͤ ÙË ÛÙËÓ ·Á¿Ë, ÛÙË ¯·Ú¿… 64 OnBlue house so that blessings and goodness can enter. Of course, what hasn’t changed since grandmother Alexandra’s day is the "battle" to crack the eggs that is held at the Easter dinner table and Easter Sunday, when the lamb is being roasted on the spit! I think that grandmother Alexandra would have been perturbed at the candles that we hold in church on the eve of the Resurrection. Dolls, little cars, all sorts of toys are hanging from the candle that will receive the Holy Light with its message of peace and the Resurrection. It’s another sign of our times. At the heart of spring is May! Do you know how many names does it have? Anthominas (blossom month), Louloudas (flowery), Kalominas (good month), Pentefas, Pentodeilonos, Prasinos (green), because everything is green, Triantafyllas (rose month), because the place is full of roses in bloom. It is the month when everything becomes alive and is reborn. The month that brings joy and freshness, which gives hope for a good harvest. Yet, this month of flowers and joy is also a month full of superstitions and unexpected events. In the Greek tradition May is a month when couples do not marry and tailors do not cut cloth. One curse that they say in the Dodecanese, is: "The hour of May be upon you." And a Cretan saying goes: "The May wedding brings much bad." But we will still make our wreath of one thousand and two brightly coloured flowers, and hang it on our door to bring us nature’s strength, beauty and freshness. In many parts of Greece, for better of for worse, among the wild flowers and the roses they place a clove of garlic to ward off the evil eye and a thorn to repel the enemy. This wreath is burnt on the fires that are lit on the eve of the feast day of St John the Baptist in June. In other places the May Da y wreath is made of cereals, to bring the strength of nature and the hope of a good harvest for the farmers. The farmers anxiously watch the weather in May, and hope that it won’t rain much. They say: "Rainless May, lots of wine juice," and "in the month of May it rains on the cursed person’s place." In the old days, people believed that May rainwater had magic powers. So, if it rained on May Day the women would sit out in the rain with their hair down and become stronger. This, is spring. Colourful, joyful, fragrant, alive and… playful! Go outside! Go! Walk in nature. Bend over a small flower. Listen to the rustling of the leaves of the trees as they whisper their song to you. Watch the swallows build their nests. Find time to laugh, to look around you. Feel the aura of May and the sweetness of the night. Open your heart, open it to love and joy …
Scarica
