Happy Easter from Agios Nikolaos ,Crete!

I want to share with you a Greek Easter tradition, the burning of an effigy of Judas Iscariot! It takes place around midnight the Saturday just before Easter.

In the picture the effigy stands on a floating platform in the centre of the lake but you can see the same tradition all over Greece to villages and towns, on public squares and by the see, on the islands or in the mainland!

When the priest say Jesus is raised from the Dead fire crackers go off with deafening explosions will the bells are still ringing, the priests are still chanting and people are embracing each other. It is the time that Judas is set on fire as a punishment for his treason!