Breaking the Fast 2016

The forty days are up! Since Clean Monday no meat, dairy, animal products, fish - except for 25th March, when it is allowed. How did we do? Well not badly. We had decided at the beginning not to be too precious about it. If we were guests somewhere we would do our best and in fact  there were only two significant occasions where we simply ate what was in front of us. We did not miss meat as there were so many other options. The one thing I really missed was my morning cup of tea without milk. I tried fruit teas but they did not hit the spot. Strangely I did not have my "cuppa" till three days after Easter - I forgot - so that proves something.

How did we break our fast? In a very traditional way.

After the midnight service we managed to bring the lighted candles with the "Holy light" home and mark across on the door lintle. Then, as it was warm, we lit candles on the table outside.

We ate Magiritsa - lambs liver and offal soup with an egg and lemon sauce

Home made cheese pies

Aubergine and tomato salad

We drank local red wine

As we sat chatting we couple hear the sound of church bells and fireworks from villages around the area ( our church had it's service fairly early as the priest had to go to one or two other churches too) We began to wonder, as we listened to the distant bangs and crashes whether this was what it was like during the war, sitting at home, seeing the sky light up and the sound of a battle in the distance.

Breakfast in the morning consisted of smoked salmon and myzithra ( a local cheese) in spinach wraps. Enough to keep us going until the main event of Easter Lunch.

Easter Day 1989 ( Diary part7)

Easter Day, a day for families and friends, a day for celebrating, what would I do?

 I decided to go for a walk along the sea-shore and then, hopefully, refreshed by the sea breeze, I would pay a visit to ‘Sunset’ bar to pass the time.

The sea was grey and there was a mist blowing in. The sand looked dull and uninviting as I walked along the shore line dodging the small waves that scurried up the beach. It matched my mood. I picked up a few shells that had been carried onto the beach by the recent storm and put them absent mindedly in my pocket. I skimmed a few stones across the water and then made my way back to the village. I was surprised to see that a couple of hours had passed during my reverie.

“Welcome! Welcome! Come and join us. I was led through to the warm, inner depths of the cafeteria to find Pavlos and Michalis with their wives and  mother preparing to enjoy their Easter lunch. As they could not be at home to enjoy their feast, the feast was brought to them. I was sat down and treated as an honoured guest. I began to relax and enjoy myself. The day was turning out rather better than I had been expecting. “How kind of them,” I thought, “to share such an important family day with one who was a virtual stranger.

“Relax and enjoy” ordered Pavlos. “You are with us today.” I smiled.  “This as a special day of the year.”

The table was spread with different dishes containing roast and boiled meats, boiled rice cooked in the meat juices, vegetables gathered from the fields and many dips and side dishes, including of course the ubiquitous Easter biscuits. The wine was dark red, almost black in colour and I was told that it was ten years old. It was smooth to the palate, unlike a lot of the local wine.

Graviera Cheese & tsigoudia ( raki)

Lamb

The time was passing very pleasantly when suddenly, at about three o’clock a young man from Kalamitsi walked into the room. 

“Come with me.” he ordered.

“What about..?” I didn’t have chance to finish my question.

“It’s ok” he said in a gentler tone. “Come to my village with me please. I would like you to spend  Easter with us.”

Pavlos gave me a big grin and a wink “Get off with you. Have a good time."

We left and drove in the direction of the village.

“Curiouser and curiouser” I thought to myself, “ He’s planning to take me to his village? With all the family? 

I found myself once again at the cafenion of Petros and Soula. A large table had been placed in the courtyard and many of their cousins and other members of the family had gathered, even though the sky overhead was gloomy.

Lamb Fricasee

A number of the company I had met before and I couldn’t help wondering what they were thinking. Nobody showed the slightest sign that there was anything amiss. I was made welcome by all there.

We ate and drank again and as usual the wine flowed. Roast lamb, hot off the spit, fresh cheese pies sweet and savoury, roast and fried potatoes, roast pork sprinkled with cinnamon were all on offer.

I had already eaten but the temptation to taste everything proved to great to resist. This was not a day for worrying about the waistline. We cracked our red-painted eggs as if they were conkers, another tradition.
 The women got up to dance and I joined in, though I didn’t know the steps very well. Suddenly it began to rain.

“Oh my poor hair.” wailed Soula as she scuttled inside to shelter, but luckily it was only a light shower and soon stopped and the merriment continued.

By the time I returned to my room I was tired and my head was spinning from all the wine.

“Well,” I reflected “that was certainly a more pleasant day than I anticipated when I woke this morning.” Here in Crete you never know what was going to happen next.

A Typical village celebration