Shortly after arriving in Athens in March 2010, we got a week long Easter vacation. 15 BCA students decided to spend the week on the island of Crete. We got there just as the island was opening for the season, but we still got to experience a true Greek Easter.
The main festivities were on Good Friday when all of the Greeks go to church late at night. We got there at 10:30 and sat through the hour and a half long service. At midnight, everyone went outside and they lit fireworks for a while. Then, the elders of the church brought out what is known as the 'epitaph' and began a parade through the streets with it. During that time, the entire congregation followed and everyone made their way to the front of the line to go under the epitaph, which signifies good luck for the year to come (we got to go under!).
The experience was one of a kind and there was a lot we didn't understand, since everything was happening in Greek. But we loved our experience and thanks to BCA, I'll be able to tell people about my experience for years to come!