Author: M Mykonos Villas

In all the religions of the world, the resurrection of the soul plays a dominant role, as people symbolically celebrate the hope of rebirth – which is a universal expectation. And when this spiritual situation coincides with springtime, as is the case with the Greek Easter, this symbolism becomes a unique sensory experience, combining inner peace and anticipation within an explosion of colors and fragrances in the atmosphere.

In Mykonos, this magical atmosphere captivates visitors from the moment they arrive on the island. The sun shines as brightly as always, the sea surface glitters under its rays and the temperature is inviting for dives on its unique seabed, and evenings outdoors under the stars. Only, unlike the summer madness and the crowds of tourists flooding the picturesque streets, at Easter there is a wonderful quiet, a unique peace — as if all of nature, like the locals, is entering a phase of contemplation. At the same time, everywhere on the Island locals hustle to get everything ready for this major celebration that expresses human awe for the wonder of rebirth — both metaphorical and in nature.

Way beyond being a matter of religion or dogma, celebrating Easter on a Greek Island like Mykonos is a spectacular combination of traditions that address at the same time, the soul, the eyes, and the palate! Regardless of personal faith, this exquisite canvas of bells rhythmically ringing and people being somewhat quieter than usual make you want to contemplate the deeper meaning of life. Just follow the Epitaph on Good Friday, when the Body of Christ, wrapped in a white cloth and placed on a “bed” decorated with hundreds of flowers is carried through the town of Mykonos, with locals holding candles and chanting. Every day of the Holy Week has the feeling of a non-stop meditation, urging even the foreign visitors to the Island to lower their voices and be part of this unique atmosphere.

The rituals and traditions of the Orthodox Easter date back thousands of years, and they are all related to deeper symbolic meanings. At the same time this yearly celebration offers a unique opportunity to visit Mykonos at its best, with its world-famous landscape celebrating at its turn the wonders of spring. Easter in Mykonos is also a fantastic gastronomy tour among the fine greeneries and all the other delicacies of the Lent period, and the mouthwatering mix of roast lamb, homemade bread, and pies, lots of red eggs, fresh salads and fine wine, followed by the sweetest sweets that make you eager to come back for more!

Whether you’re drawn by the allure of the island’s picturesque landscape, the captivating rituals of Orthodox Easter, or the delectable flavors of its gastronomy, Mykonos invites you to immerse yourself in its unique blend of spirituality, beauty, and culinary delights. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this extraordinary spectacle firsthand and discover why Easter on Mykonos is a truly magical experience like no other!

Forget about strict religious teachings and dogmas, as the Greek Easter is one of the most beautiful ways in the Mediterranean to celebrate life over death and rejoice nature’s awakening after the winter silence!

In 2024, Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on the 2nd of May, marking at the same time the official opening of the “early birds” summer season. In Mykonos, for instance, it is the perfect time for beach bars to set up their luxurious sunbeds on the golden sand and turn the music on for the first seaside parties. While the first international flights have been landing on the island since the end of March, by May the weather is at its best: hot enough for all-day swimming, yet pleasantly fresh in the evening for dining out at the taverns around the old port!

Also known as “Pascha,” Greek Easter follows that of the Protestants and Catholics, as its date is calculated based on the ancient Julian calendar instead of the modern Gregorian. For the millions of church believers in Greece, the rituals begin forty days before Easter, marked by a long Lent that lasts until Easter day. On this day, they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with various festivities, including a rich family lunch with roasted lamb, homemade onion pies, fresh salads, red eggs, and the traditional “magiritsa” soup from the night before, made of lamb liver, meat and herbs.

In Mykonos, as Lent begins, a holy icon from the Panagia Tourliani Monastery in Ano Mera, the island’s only large village, is transported to a church in Mykonos Town (Chora), where it is respectfully displayed until the Saturday before Palm Sunday. It is then brought back to the Monastery.

In the meantime, all the bakeries will be busy preparing the “lazarakia”, pastries shaped like small men and coated with sugar, as well as the “lambrokouloures”, the traditional Easter bread decorated with a red egg. Painting the eggs red is a custom that has held strong for many centuries, as the eggs symbolize Jesus’ tomb, and cracking them signifies his resurrection.

During the weeks before Easter, the atmosphere of the island is quiet, almost spiritual, as locals hurry to prepare everything according to holy tradition. You will see them gathering in churches, lighting candles, and singing Easter hymns, paying their respects to the significance of this special time of year. It’s a much different vibe compared to the summer frenzy; and yet, Mykonos is more beautiful than ever, inviting you to immerse yourself in the unique ambiance created by human faith and awakened nature, including the glittering, sun-washed azure blue Aegean Sea.

So, if you want to experience the magic of tradition brought to life, simply book your flight and pack!

There’s a very popular Greek song that says it’s not cold and it’s never been cold in Greece. If you add to that the also very popular proverb according to which, once, in February, the juices of nature start flooding in the underground of the hills and mountains, it will smell like summer, then you can understand why winter is always short in this beautiful corner of the Aegean Sea.

So, February is approaching, and there are only a few weeks left until the end of March when the international airport of Mykonos will start receiving flights from all over the world, with visitors eager to enjoy the magical Greek spring.

In any case, by the end of January, the island slowly starts to get crowded again. After the Christmas and New Year’s break, when many of its residents travel either to the mainland of Greece to visit family and friends or abroad for rest and new experiences, the ferries begin to fill up with those who come to the island to plan the summer season and start preparing for yet another legendary and explosive Mykonian summer.

Among the first tasks is the refreshing of the white paint on the island’s white-washed houses, alleys, and churches to erase any marks left by winter dampness. In Matoyannia, the island’s commercial hub, there’s a frenzy of activity as shops gear up to welcome visitors. New venues are opening, and specialists from Athens arrive on weekends to assist locals in organizing this year’s feast of entertainment. Artists and DJs are being booked, and new equipment is being ordered for clubs and beach bars. Simultaneously, the stunning beaches are undergoing thorough cleaning to ensure their golden sands shine once more.

Restaurants are busy crafting new menus for the season, proudly upholding Greece’s proclamation as the second-best country in the culinary sector.

And while according to the calendar it is still the season when in most parts of the western hemisphere the winter is still heavy and people are oriented to winter sports, Mykonos is already basking in sunny days that beckon people to sit outdoors and indulge in mouthwatering fresh fish lunches alongside local delicacies.

The first lucky ones arriving in Mykonos at the end of March will experience the breathtaking spring in the Cyclades, that is full of colors, aromas, and lush greenery, even more vibrant than the mid-summer landscape. From then on, there are only a few weeks until Orthodox Easter on the 5th of May, marking the official beginning of the summer party!