G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
Thanks go to everyone who came along to the Annual G.I.S. St. Patrick’s Gala Ball on the 14th
March last and making it such a fun night out!!! We all know times are difficult so we managed to
keep the price the same as it has been in the last two years by subsidising it through the GIS
Funds, After all “charity begins at home”.
We had a TOTAL SELL OUT with over 300 people in attendance.
We had wonderful poems “performed” by our very own Peter O’Leary, superb live Irish music,
courtesy of IERNIS, beautiful ballads by our dear friend Alison Hayes Kealy, amazing traditional
Irish Dancing by Sorcha Polack and people never left the dance floor! What with our great DJ music, top class food, free flowing booze, lots of fun and banter – everyone had a fantastic evening!
Thanks go to all our SPONSORS and supporters as well – without your support we cannot do this
event each year – so we all very much appreciate it. A full list of the Sponsors on the next pageAlso photographs of the evening which were taken by Georgia Diakaki are available on our Facebook page and our site- greekirishsociety.gr
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
GALA BALL RAFFLE PRIZE WINNERS
1. Celestyal Cruises – 3 Day Idyllic Cruise from Piraeus for 2 people.
Winner: Aidan Fahey
2. Porto Elounda Golf and Spa Resort- 3 night stay with Sea View room + Breakfast
Winner: Catherine Aylward
3. The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino 2 night accommodation for 2 people in Deluxe Sea View Room with Breakfast
buffet.
Winner: Kostas Katsouliekis
4. Accommodation for two people for two nights at Earino Suites and Villas, Akrotiri, Santorini, Sponsored by GIS
Members: Vassilis Chronopoulos/Julie Richards PLUS a meal for two at Francos Music Bar, Santorini
Winner: Jurgen Rosheff
5. 2-night’s stay at “Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel” in Astypalea!
Winner: Niamh Harkis
6. Half day Spa Visit for 1 person at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Winner: Susa Hatziminas
7. Half day Spa Visit for 1 person at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Winner: Ciaran
8. Toi & Moi –. Ladies Black pleated evening jumpsuit
Winner: Aidan Fahey
9. A selection of Irish Whiskies from the Irish Embassy
Winner: Litsa Tsitsa
10. Botrini’s Restaurant Halandri – dinner for 2 + a glass of wine.
Winner: Niko Mariakis
11. Little India Restaurant, Nea Erythraia – dinner for 2
Winner: Brain Coatta
12. A 70 euro meal voucher from O'Connell's Irish Pub, Piraeus.
Winner: Mr Wooldridge
13. A 70 euro meal voucher from Molly Malone's Irish Pub, Glyfada
Winner: Latif Ellayes
14. A 70 euro meal voucher from James Joyce Irish Pub, Thesseio
Winner: Martin Andrews
15. Piece of handmade jewelry by Marijke Smiet-Bünker
Winner: Niko Mariaki
16. Megalaser Laser Surgery & Dermatological Clinic offers 2 free Laser depilation treatments plus 1 free Dermatoscopy
Digital mole mapping session. Sponsored by GIS Member Helen Ruby Kassimatis M.D
Winner: Anne Renee
17. Momentum Mountain Bike Academy offers a free mountain bike skills lesson Sponsored by GIS Member Alessio
Toninelli
Winner: Richard Johnson Brown
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
Easter Services for the Anglican Church here in Athens, Filellinon 27
Bazaar in Aid of the Poor
Caritas Voula are organizing an Economy Busting Bazaar in Aid of the Poor at the Catholic
Church, K. Karamanli 77, Voula on Saturday 25th of April from 11.30 – 15.30 and on Sunday
26th of April from 12.00 – 13.00. There will be great bargains for all with fashion, bric-a-brac,
presents, toys and a vast selection of books in English and other languages. Come along for some
real bargains AND help out the really unfortunate!
For information please call 210-895-8694 or Anna 697-351-6470
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
MUSIC AT ST. PAUL’S - SPRING ORGAN CONCERTS (12TH SEASON)
Join us in the historic surroundings of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Filellinon 27 (Syntagma Metro
Station) for another series of these very popular concerts:
Sunday 5th April – The Camerata Patzold, supported by the St. George Lycabettus Hotel, present
works by Franz, Zebinger, Buxtehude, Tomasi, Albinoni, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Reger, Schubert
and Schumann.
Monday 6th April (Megali Deftera) - Matteo Galli (organ) and Jannis Agraniotis (violin) perform
works by Ignaz, Biber and Bach.
All concerts start at 8.30 p.m. and last for approximately one hour.
Entrance 10 Euros/ Under-18s 5 Euro
Information & bookings 210-220-29737
CALLING ALL NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS….
2015 will see the “changing of the guard” on the Greek Irish Society Committee. A number of the
current committee members– Our President- Eileen Morfoniou, Vice-President Valerie Assimacopoulos, Treasurer – Catherine Aylward and committee member Gillian Efremiadis will not be
standing for re-election in May 2015. Are you interested? Will you volunteer to go on the Committee? Know someone who would be good?
Then let us know on [email protected] It’s your Society- so show your support and
get involved in the running of it!!!!
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
GREEK EASTER TRADITIONS.
As we all know we are well into the “count-down” for Easter. For those who will be staying here in Greece
and not traveling out of the country celebrate the holiday “back home”, here are a few of the traditions
most Greek families follow every Easter.
Holy Thursday or “Big Thursday/Μεγάλη Πεμπτη”. This is the day which Greek households dye their
eggs red and bake their “tsoureki” (traditional sweet Easter bread) Red is the color of life as-well as a representation of the blood of Christ. Holy Thursday evening, church services include a symbolic representation of the crucifixion, and the period of mourning begins. In many villages and in some cities as well,
women will sit in church throughout the night, in traditional mourning, this is also when the young
woman and single ladies lavishly decorate the “epitafio” (the symbolic bier of Christ) with fresh flowers
that they have mostly gathered themselves.
Good Friday or “Big Friday/ Μεγάλη Παρασκευή”. Is the holiest day of Holy Week, traditionally the day
of mourning and not of work. Even the “job” of cooking is not done in some villages. It is also the only day
of the year that the Divine Liturgy is NOT read. Flags are hung at half-mast and church bells ring all day in
a slow mournful tone. In the evening- usually around 9pm The Epitafio is brought out of the church, carried on the shoulders of the faithful in a procession through the community (traditionally to the cemetery
and back but as usually the procession will follow a “circuit” ” through the nearby streets). Members of the
congregation follow carrying lighted candles.
Holy Saturday or “Big Saturday/Μεγάλο Σάββατο” On Holy Saturday, the Eternal Flame is flown to
Greece by military jet, and is distributed to waiting Priests who carry it to their local churches. In the
morning preparations begin for the next days Easter Feast, also the traditional dish of “mayiritsa” soup (a
soup made from lamb offal) is made which will be eaten after the midnight service to “break the fast”. The
midnight Service of the Resurrection is an occasion attended by everyone who is able, including children,
each holding a candle. Here it is also traditional for children’s Godparents to buy their Godchild a candle
specially made for Easter, “labathas” ( lah-BAH-thah) are usually lavishly decorated with favorite children’s hero’s, toys or flowers and are only used for one Easter midnight service. Crowds are sometimes so
big that churches fill to overflowing as anticipation mounts. Shortly before midnight, all lights are extinguished and churches are lit only by the Eternal Flame on the altar. When the clock passes midnight the
Priest calls out “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen) and passes the flame, the light of Resurrection, to the
nearest to him. The flame is then passed from person to person and it isn’t long before the church and
courtyard are filled with flickering candle light. Neighbors exchange “wishes”, saying “Christos Anesti” and
in response “Alithos Anesti” (truly, he is risen) or “Alithionos o Kyrios” (true is the Lord).
Christos Anesti- khree-STOHSS-ah-NES-tee
Alithos Anesti- ah-lee-THOSHSS-ah-NES-tee
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
Alithos o Kyrios- ah-lee-thee-NOHSS o KEE-ree-yohss
Church bells ring joyously non-stop, ships in ports all over Greece sound their horns, fireworks are lit and
noisemakers are set off. It is the custom to carry the Eternal Flame home and use it to make the sign of the
cross on the doorframe smoke, which is left there throughout the year, symbolizing that the light of the
Resurrection has blessed the home. Once home, everyone gathers around the table for a traditional meal
to beak the fast, usually of myiritsa, tsoukeki and the red eggs
But before the eggs are eaten, there is a traditional “challenge” or “tsugrisma” as the Greeks call it. Holding
your egg you tap the end against the end of your opponent’s egg trying to crack it… It’s a game, which is
enjoyed, by adults and children alike.
Easter Sunday /Κυριακή το Πάσχα: At dawn (or maybe earlier) on Easter Sunday the spits are set to
work and grills are set up. The customary main attraction of the day is whole roasted lamb, goat (kid) that
represents the Lamb of God, however many prefer oven roasted, stove topped cooked or even stuffed
lamb.
Easter Monday/Δευτέρα του Πάσχα: Is another national holiday, which is mainly a day which things
are taken slowly and certainly a day filled with delicious leftovers.
SO WHY RED???
It is wildly believed that this tradition exists because of Mary Magdalene, who went to Rome to preach the
Gospel and appearing before the Emperor Tiberius, offered him an egg saying “CHRIST IS RISEN”. Tiberius, who was skeptical, told Magdalene that if she was telling the truth his egg would turn red. At this
point the egg had turned blood red, and so began her preaching.
A second version of this tradition is that it began when the Virgin Mary offered the Roman soldiers guarding her Son a basket full of eggs in the hope that they would treat him well. While she was pleading for
him, her tears fell on the eggs and they turned red.
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
*Hopefully we will have a GIS event later in the month… we will inform as when
and where this event will take place at a further date.
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
*Dermatology Call Helen Ruby Kassimatis on 210-384-0383 www.megalaser.gr
***********
*Greek bouzouki tutor. Call George Tsimbouksis 697-190-6107 [email protected]
************
*Handmade silver and bronze jewellery. Call Marijke Smiet-Bunker 695-615-4955 or contact per mail [email protected] or via FB'
**********
*Keg & Crew Engish Pub and Resturant- Akti Miaouli 83,Pireaus Available for all private and corporate function.
Open Saturday night for events and private functions. Child friendly
kegncrew.wix.com/kegncrew Tel: 210 429 0396
************
*Professional freelance photographer. Weddings, baptism, portrait, landscape, advertising and architectural photography (also on facebook George Tsimbouksis Photography)
www.georgetsimbouksis.com
Call George Tsimbouksis 697-190-6107
************
*Real Estate. “A Home For You”. Call Terry Corridan 693-239-3569 [email protected]
************
*Singing and piano tutor .Ethnonusicolosist / organiser and tutor in Irish song lessons and seminars.
Call Labrini Gioti 698-086-0471 [email protected]
************
* The English Centre, provides specialized consultancy and education services to those wishing to move to the UK
and overseas for academic or professional reasons.
www.englishcentre.gr
Call Kim Hedley 697-305-3745
************
*The Athens Centre, educational and cultural organization, Greek language courses, university programs, cultural events
for Information, contact: Rosemary Donnelly, email: [email protected]
***********
*Momentum Mountain Bike Academy, offers mountain bike lessons on the mountain of Ymmitos.
Call Alessio Toninelli 695-644-4887 www.momentum.academy.blogspot.com
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G.I.S. Nuachtlitir / Newsletter:Aibreán/ April 2015 Issue No: 48
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