Raki Friday!

A few days ago we were celebrating the Orthodox Easter and in this village (and a few more on Crete) we have a special way to greet Good Friday.

Practically it is Jesus Christ's funeral so we are talking about the sadest day of Christianity.

After the service in the church, the "epitaphios" (which symbolizes the body of Christ) bedecked with an abundance of flowers is carried around the village.

So far nothing unusual, that's the way it is done all over the world. The unique part starts a few meters after the church when it is time for the first, of the many stops!

All over the village there are people in front of their homes, waiting to offer raki and a small treat as the flock is passing by!

Raki is a very strong alcoholic drink produced by distillation of grape pomace. It is usually homemade and it is an important part of the social life of the island. If you care to learn more about it you can read my post Homemade spirit!

This tradition may sound disrespectful to those who are unfamiliar with the Cretan way of dealing with grief, but it is not. If you ever happen to attend a funeral on Crete you'll see that raki is an essential part of it.

Year after year this local custom has become a tourist attraction and in that day our tiny village is filled with visitors that are many times more than the inhabitants!

The village itself is very picturesque adding to the unique atmosphere of the evening. If you would like to find out more about it you may read my post Travel destination or life itself?.

I only wish I could offer you pictures of better quality but unfortunately, my 9 years old canon performs really poorly on low light conditions. I hope that I managed to give you a hint of the night's mood, though!