Sharing Traditions, Building Community: Mayflower Reservoir's Orthodox Easter Celebration

Our Mayflower Reservoir Community came together to celebrate Orthodox Easter, sharing traditions and joy with each other.

Pictured above: Gallina has finished oiling some red hard-boiled eggs, and shared with us her memories of making Easter biscuits for her family.

In the Greek Orthodox tradition, red eggs hold a significant place during Easter celebrations.

So, a group of residents gathered to oil and decorate some red hard-boiled eggs with stickers, with the assistance of two team members who are both of Greek Orthodox faith - Lifestyle Coordinator Helen, and Kitchen team member, Maria.

Vera, a resident of Mayflower, explained the significance of dying eggs in your own home, saying, "It's a blessing to dye eggs in your own home, and it's always been a tradition that we look forward to." And, Gallina reminisced with everyone about the biscuits she used to make for her family during this very special time of year.

During the session residents and team members also shared the meaning behind each symbol. “The red colour of the egg symbolises the blood of Christ, and the hard shell represents the sealed tomb in which Jesus was buried” explains Kitchen team member, Maria.

“The cracking of the egg is a reminder of Christ's resurrection from the tomb,

“The red egg is also a symbol of new life, as well as the renewal of nature, traditionally in springtime, but in Australia, we are celebrating during Autumn,” says Lifestyle Coordinator Helen.

During the Orthodox Easter celebration, it is customary to greet one another with "Christos Anesti" (Χριστός Ανέστη) and respond with "Alithos Anesti" (Αληθώς Ανέστη), which means "Christ is Risen" and "Truly He is Risen," respectively. Another common phrase used during this time is "Kalo Pascha" (Καλό Πάσχα), which means "Happy Easter."

The group also enjoyed Tsoureki, a traditional Greek sweet bread made with a variety of spices and orange zest, and often enjoyed during Easter. This bread is shaped like a braid, symbolising the Christian faith's holy trinity, and is often also presented as a wreath as pictured below.

Residents and team members expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn about and participate in traditions from different cultures. "It's important to acknowledge and share other traditions, especially during holidays like Easter, as it brings us closer together as a community," says Helen.

The event was a beautiful showcase of cultural exchange, and it reinforced the importance of understanding and respecting each other's traditions.

As the celebrations drew to a close, the community left with a sense of joy, understanding, and togetherness.

Pictured above: Maria and Tony work together, decorating the egg with Orthodox Easter stickers.

Pictured here: Tsoureki, a traditional Greek sweet bread made with a variety of spices and orange zest, and often enjoyed during Easter. This bread is shaped like a braid, symbolising the Christian faith's holy trinity, and is often also presented as a wreath as pictured.

Pictured: Decorating the eggs with specially made stickers has been a tradition for many years.

Pictured: The results of the group's work, mixed in with a sweeter variety of eggs, too!

Pictured: Our team love to decorate for special occasions - adding a little extra joy to events, special days, and seasons.