A great religious celebration which is important for its ceremonial in Zakynthos (Zante), is Easter.

Easter in Zakynthos is celebrated with great formality and many preparations. For the entire Holy week the feelings and the deep emotion for the Holy Passion is universal. The crucifixion, which according to the scriptures on the noon of Good Friday, dresses the whole Island in grief. The priests in simple black vestments starting from the church of Saint Nicholas of Molos, carry the Crucifix around the streets of the city. Black cloths hang from the balconies and the bells are silent. The Litany of the Crucifix ends at Solomos square after having followed the same itinerary which is followed each year.

A noteworthy "Andeti" of the same day for the Zakynthians is to drink vinegar in remembrance of the vinegar which was offered to Jesus Christ on the cross.
In the morning of Easter Saturday the "Gloria" takes place which is the first resurrection of our Lord with a liturgy and joyfully tolling bells. On the balconies, red celebratory scarves are hung and a water pot is left to fall and break with the Zakynthians saying the following phrase, "To the shame of the Hebrews and the joy of the Christians".
In the past the Hebrew shops of the city, which were then kept by the numerous Jewish community, used to find in the morning of Easter Saturday their signs changed or gathered one on top of the other in the square. This was the "Andeti" of the Zakynthians.
So there was for a short time confusion about what was sold at each shop and where its sign was.
The great resurrection of the Lord is celebrated with pomp on the evening of Easter Saturday at the Square of St Mark. On Easter Sunday lambs are roasted on the spit in the streets according to the custom which prevails all over Greece. In the afternoon of the same day the local "Panigyria" starts in villages with litanies, worship, dancing and feasting.

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