Greek Easter

What is danced for Greek Easter

Easter is the greatest feast of the Greek Orthodox year. After the long fast and the midnight service of the Resurrection, Sunday is given to joy. Lamb is roasted on the spit in yards and village squares, and once people have eaten, the music begins. Dancers join hands in an open circle that moves to the right, led by whoever is at the front, who may add turns and leaps. The kalamatianos and the syrtos are danced by everyone, old and young together. In the mainland mountains men lead the slow, proud tsamiko.

The dances

KalamatianosThe best known circle dance, in a lilting seven beats.SyrtosA smooth, dragging circle dance, very old.TsamikoA slow mountain dance with leaps by the leader.

More dances done for Greek Easter

🇪🇬 Egypt and 3 moreZaffaزفـّـة A wedding procession with music and dance across the Arab worldFolk dance · Procession · Group InternationalFaroese chain danceFøroyskur dansur A circle dance from the Faroe Islands, sung to ballads and danced hand in handFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain