May First, Labour Day and a holiday in Greece, is also a celebration of spring, welcoming the new season where nature is at its best. This day is a great opportunity for escapes at the nature and the island of Chios offers many choices for excursions, that combine the fields and the mountains with the sea! We are suggesting here two different excursions for May Day and you can choose, depending on whether you prefer to spend your day away from the crowds, or in a more cosmopolitan way.

So if you want absolute peace and wildlife, you should definitely visit the beautiful Kampia Ravine in Northern Chios. The 3,770 meter long route through the ravine is enchanting. The hiking trail runs down towards the river, which keeps water almost all year round, but also through cultivated areas. Enjoy your hiking in the valley with olive trees and small fruit trees, chestnut trees, plane trees, oaks over a hundred years old, cypress trees, tall pine trees and cherry trees. You will hear the calming sound of the water and the songs of the nightingales and if you are lucky, you will spot some of the interesting bird populations, including a rare species of eagles, which often appear in the area. The route ends at the secluded beach of Kambia, with its crystal clear waters. There is also a kiosk for relaxation that can host your picnic!

On the other hand, if you wish for something more cosmopolitan, we suggest you start your day with a walk in Kampos area. Take a stroll through the narrow streets, through the mansions with the exquisite gardens and orchards. The wonderful aroma of the citrus flowers will be with you all the way. At the end of your walk visit the Citrus Museum, where you can have your coffee accompanied by local sweets, under the citrus trees.

Then head south, towards the bustling Komi beach. There you will enjoy the sea and the golden sand, with all the amenities of an organized beach. Coffee and delicacies are served by the sea and so does fresh fish at the taverns of the area. And if you have the appetite for further entertainment, there are always the afternoon parties, organized by the cafes of the area.

Easter holidays have officially begun and our daily routine is adapted accordingly. The Holy Week on Chios island is determined by the fast, the Easter celebration preparations and, of course, the visit to church.

Observing the Holy Week liturgies is a must for a lot of people on the island, given that Easter is the most important celebration of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Holy Week liturgies can be impressive, moving and very spiritual. If you are looking for an authentic experience of Greek Easter, Chios island will spoil you for choice. Participating in a Holy Week liturgy in one of the ancient monasteries of the island, or in one of the castle villages of mastiha, is an unforgettable experience.

Holy Thursday in Nea Moni monastery of Chios

Nea Moni is the 11^th century Byzantine monastery and UNESCO world heritage monument on Chios island. On Holy Thursday, the day Jesus’ crucifixion takes place, the congregation gathers to listen to the reading of the twelve gospels under candlelight, the imposing dome and the famous golden mosaics of the church dedicated to Virgin Mary’s dormition.

Holy Friday in Chios Town and the Mastiha villages

On Good Friday the Epitaphs in every church are decorated with fresh fragrant flowers. It is customary for locals to visit several parishes in order to admire their Epitaphs and pay their respects.

On Good Friday Evening the Epitaph procession of the town’s Cathedral takes place, accompanied by the Chios Philarmonic and a military group. The procession arrives at the town square where it is met by Epitaphs from other town parishes, creating an imposing spectacle. The Epitaph procession at the Castle of Chios is also very moving, as it passes through the narrow Castle alleys. Often the procession passes by Chios port at the time the ferry arrives, allowing for passengers and crew to disembark in order to pay their respects.

Following the Epitaph procession at one of the villages of Mastiha is a unique experience. From Vessa and Olympoi to Pyrgi and Mesta, whichever village you choose to visit on this day, it is certain that you will have an unforgettable experience.  

Holy Saturday at the Rouketopolemos (Rocketwar) of Vrontados

This is the main event of Easter in Chios. In Vrontados, at the north of the town, the two largest parishes, Panagia Erythiani and Agios Markos revive an old tradition. At Easter night they light hand-made rockets, signifying the victory of life over death and creating the most glorious spectacle of Greek- Orthodox Easter you have ever experienced.

Happy Easter to everyone!

* Thanks to Politis newspaper, Chiosphotos.gr and Tolis Flioukas for their photos.

Taking our cue from last week’s blog post on the Easter delicacies of Chios island, we offer here a couple of local recipes which are perfect for the fastening period leading to Easter celebrations. These dishes are ideal meze (tapas) for a glass of Chios excellent ouzo or souma (the local spirit distilled from figs).

The recipes are found in the book “Traditional recipes from Kampos, Chios” where we can find a treasure of local recipes collected by the Kampos Cultural Association. The book is published by local “Aegeas” publications and can be found in Chios bookstores.

Broad beans in olive oil

1 part vinegar, 1 part lemon juice, salt

Prepare the broad beans and slice them lightly. Pour water, vinegar, salt and lemon juice in a pot. After it boils, add the broad beans and let them boil for a couple of minutes, but do not overboil them. Let them cool in the water overnight. The next day drain them and place them in a jar of olive oil.

Chickpea croquettes

Chickpeas, 1 grated onion, parsley and peppermint, oregano, ½ cup of flour

Boil the chickpeas. After they are ready, drain them and put them in the blender. Add the onion, the herbs and as much flour as necessary. Make the mix into croquettes and fry them. 

Preserved fish roe croquettes

100 grams preserved fish roe, 1 grated onion, 200 grams wet bread, some parsley, flour

We wash the preserved fish roe in cold water, we drain it and place it in a bowl. We add the rest of the ingredients and we mix it. Add some water if necessary. Leave the mix to rest for 25-30 minutes. We make the croquettes, cover them in flour and deep fry them.

Enjoy!

Chios may be one of the most popular Greek destinations for Easter due to the rocket war but at the same time anyone who chooses to visit Chios this period will definitely enjoy savory traditional local dishes. Both the foods of the fast and the meats that follow the Resurrection will amaze you and in this article we offer some suggestions that will take off your meals during Easter holidays in Chios!

During the Holy Week, as most people observe the fast, sea food and vegan meals are the stars of local gastronomy. While wandering in the city and the villages, try the small artichokes and broad beans preserved in olive oil, fava puree, and vegan “keftedes” made with tarama, wild greens or chickpeas. In patisseries look for kaltsounia and methismena (cookies without dairy or eggs, stuffed with nuts or jam) and pies made of tamboura (red pumpkin).

As for the seafood if you are looking for a restaurant near the city, try Ihthioskala and Daskalopetra where seafood is consumed as soon as fishboats arrive at the harbour. But you should definitely visit the villages of the fishermen such as Lagada, Pantoukios, Kataraktis and Lithi and beaches such as Komi, Gridia and Emporios, where the seafood abound and you will enjoy them “the right way”: directly from the sea to your plate, on a table by the sea accompanied with ouzo.

After the Resurrection, there is meat consumption, mainly goat and lamb and of course the red Easter eggs. Combine them with a visit to a picturesque village like Avgonima or Volissos, Pitios, Mesta, Kalamoti and Armolia. Accompany them with the extra fresh myzithra cheese, rich artichoke or cheese pies and local wine and of course with the amazing Chian tsourekia (brioches)!

In the churches of the villages the Resurrection liturgy is very nice, while in the squares there are bonfires in order to "burn Judah". On Easter Sunday before your festive meal, we suggest that you choose a hiking route  from the ones mentioned on our website(http://www.chios.gr/en/things-to-do/peripatitikes-diadromes ) and enjoy your meal with more appetite and fresh air in your lungs!

Like every year, Chios, the fragrant North Aegean Island, is the ultimate Greek Easter destination, mostly because of the Rocketwar event, but for other reasons too!

The rocketwar was and still is the most important event of Easter celebrations on Chios island. Locals from the two largest parishes of Vrontados village, namely Panagia Erithiani and Agios Markos, participate in a traditional event that dates back to the ottoman era. The locals make handmade fireworks called rockets which are fired between the two opposing parishes, in a mock up war that lights the night sky on Good Saturday.

However, we can have many more experiences in springtime Chios, as we discover hidden corners of the island during the Easter Holidays:

Spring is pure magic in Kampos. We may choose to stay in a local traditional mansion. We can visit Citrus Museum to learn more about the history of the citrus fruits commerce in Chios. We will walk across citrus gardens in full blossom, cycle in the narrow alleys of Kampos and go on a gastronomy tour of the area to try local delicacies, such as spoon sweets and other traditional products.

We can visit Chios monasteries, starting with Nea Moni, an 11^th century Byzantine Monastery and a UNESCO Monument of World Heritage, where we can admire the famous mosaics, a prominent example of the Constantinople School of the time. Nea Moni also operates as a church where you can follow one of the liturgies of the Holy Week. We will hike on the path between Nea Moni and Agioi Pateres Monasteries, and then tour the medieval traditional settlements of Anavatos and Avgonyma where we can enjoy delicious traditional food at the local taverns.

On Good Friday we visit Chios Castle. From the picturesque church of St. George we follow the Epitaph process to Chios Town square, where an imposing event takes place, as epitaphs from various parishes of town gather. This is a night that lives up to the day’s solemnity: epitaphs decorated with all the flowers of Chios spring and moving byzantine psalms. Alternatively, we can follow the Epitaph procedure at one of the Mastiha villages of the south, such as Mesta or Olympoi.

In Vrontados, on Good Saturday the Rocketwar event takes place, as the handmade rockets are fired between the two parishes, signifying the start of the spring and the most glorious Easter celebration. However, apart from Vrontados, bear in mind that all liturgies of the Holy Week all over Chios Island are loud and noisy, but the smell of fireworks is an essential ingredient of the Easter atmosphere.

After the Resurrection liturgy on Good Saturday, we can enjoy the traditional mageiritsa in one of the local restaurants or hotels. On Easter Sunday a lot of local taverns and restaurants offer traditional goat or lamb and other traditional dishes, which we can accompany with local wine, ouzo or souma.  

On Easter Monday, it is customary to go on an excursion in the countryside, while celebrations with traditional music and dancing take place in a few villages.

This year, like every year, Chios is the ultimate Easter island destination, with so many choices of unforgettable experiences.