Costa Navarino Announces Greek Easter Celebrations

The Romanos Resort, a Luxury Collection

Costa Navarino and the nearby picturesque villages of Messinia in southwestern Peloponnese, will revive the area’s long-time Greek Easter customs, traditions and recipes. During April 10-17, those visiting The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos Resort, a Luxury Collection will have the chance to experience first-hand the region’s rich cultural heritage and celebrate an authentic Greek Easter.

The “Agora” at Navarino Dunes in Costa Navarino will turn into a multi-hub of Greek Easter activities, while visitors discover the destination’s vast array of facilities. At the little chapel of St. Sampson at the “Agora”, guests will get acquainted with the devout religious proceedings taking place throughout the long weekend.

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Local Traditional Recipes

Traditional Messinian Easter recipes will form an essential part of the culinary offering at Navarino Dunes. On Easter Sunday, alongside the roast lamb on a spit — the main celebratory Greek dish — another special dish called “kleftiko” will be prepared, which is made with lamb cooked in parchment paper.

On Saturday morning of the Easter weekend, local women will prepare and bake “embroidered breads”. The evening’s midnight worship will be followed by spectacular fireworks, while the traditional dish of “magiritsa soup” (made with lamp and romain lettuce) alongside the cracking of the red-painted eggs truly will embellish the festive menu.

Easter Traditions and Customs

A program of multiple entertainment options will introduce the young guests of Costa Navarino to the region’s customs and traditions, such as creating and decorating their own little-fire lanterns for the Saturday’s Resurrection service and Egg Hunting for kids and parents on Easter Sunday.

The Epitaph Procession on the evening of Good Friday has been “shared” between the villages of Romanos and Petrohori for many years. Starting at one village and ending in the other, it passes through a country road surrounded by olive groves.

The Westin Resort Costa Navarino

Another spectacular competition is that of the “Saitopolemos”, which involves teams holding tubular home-made fireworks (or saites). Taking place in Kalamata ,on either Saturday or Easter Sunday, it is a colorful event dating back to the Greek War of Independence.

In the small village of Dasohori, the local custom of making and flying of balloons at the church of Aghia Paraskevi is still held these days, as well as many more customs in the Messinian region.