Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα - Holy Week

Easter is the biggest celebration of the year in the Greek Orthodox Calendar.
Greek Easter falls on Sunday 4th April 2010 and this week, leading up to Easter, is known as Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα or Holy Week, or the literal translation The Big Week.

Preparations for Easter are already in full swing; houses, churches, garden walls and village pavements have been whitewashed and churches decorated with flowers.

Throughout Holy Week church services take place daily and many will fast, excluding all meat, fish, eggs and oil from their diet, in order to take holy communion.

This week Cretan women will bake koulourakia, tsoureki and kalitsounia, dye eggs red and prepare for the big Easter celebration from midnight on Saturday.

Read more about the daily preparations throughout Holy Week on my Greek Easter hub.

Greek Independence Day March 25th

Today is the Anniversary of Greece's Independence Day, and coincides with the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

On 25th March 1821 the Bishop of Patras, Germanos, raised the Greek flag at the monastery of Aghia Lavra in the Peloponnese, an act that marked the beginning of the war of Independence.

The people of Greece proclaimed "Freedom or Death" and they fought the War of Independence for 9 years (1821-1829) until a small part of modern Greece was finally liberated and it was declared an independent nation.

Military parades are held throughout Greece and the Islands every year on March 25th to mark the Anniversary.

March 25th is also the Name Day of Evangelos (Vangelis) and Evangelia.

Summer Tourists to Shun Greece?

A report out this week from Skyscanner.com claims that Turkey is set to take a significant slice of summer tourists from rival Greece following a recent spate of negative publicity after strikes and rioting hit the troubled country.

Skyscanner reports that flight searches to Turkey are 159% higher than flight searches to Greece for travel dates this summer.

"Following serious economic problems, strikes and rioting over the last few months, Greece’s tourist industry looks to take a hit and rival Turkey is well placed to take Greece’s share of the market." say Skyscanner.

“Greece has had a lot of bad press recently and unfortunately it’s coming at a time when many people are booking their summer holidays. News of street clashes and strikes are going to hurt Greece’s tourist industry and Greece’s loss is Turkey’s gain. On the upside, it may mean more offers of cheap flights to Greece as it tries to win back tourists.” said Barry Smith, Skyscanner Co-founder and Market Development Director.
Skyscanner.net

However according to reports here in Crete, tour operators, hoteliers and villa owners are optimistic, with 2010 bookings already up on 2009 levels.

Petrol Prices on Fire

Petrol and diesel have become even more expensive since 15th March as the new VAT increase (from 19% to 21%) was introduced on Monday. Unleaded petrol prices in Chania yesterday ranged from 1.48 to 1.60 euros a litre. And next weekend costs are expected to surpass 1.60.

The new increase has caused complaints by consumers, but the President of Chania petrol station owners, Vangelis Kotsos, has replied that petrol stations are not profiteering: “From 9th February increases in excise duty have been raised by 14.3 cents the first time, then 8 cents the second time and now the new VAT. The total price increase is around 26 cents, but the refineries have increased their prices by 33 cents.
With the new VAT increase on petrol Monday, prices have risen around 3 cents per litre. So the cost price to petrol station owners has risen to 1.53 for a litre of unleaded petrol.
There are shops which sell petrol below 1.53 euros because the discounts they get from companies is such that they are allowed to sell at, and below, the wholesale price.
But there are stations which do not get any discount and their prices are bound to range from 1 , 60 euros and up. For example, when the cost is 1.53 euros, the 4.5% profit for the owner amount to around 7 cents, so the 1.53 price reaches 1.60. If someone gets a 3 cent discount and passes this on to the consumer they can sell at around 1.58 euros.
These prices are unprecedented, not only in Crete but also for the whole of Greece."

Mr Kotsos said that by next weekend fuel prices in Chania will be from 1.55 up to 1.63 euros.


Receipts for Petrol From April 1st

Receipts for the sale of petrol should go ahead from April, as decided by the Ministry of Finance. Within the next 7 to 12 months, input-output systems will be placed at petrol stations.

President of the Chania petrol station owners, Vangelis Kotsos, said " The owners never had a problem with cash machines, the problem is with the absence of input-output systems. These will be installed with the next 7 to 12 months. Cash registers will be installed by April 1 and will offer receipts to everyone.“

From Haniotika Nea

NOTE: Chania petrol stations will NOT be taking part in the nationwide petrol strike tomorrow, Thursday

Archaeology: Priestesses tombs unearthed on Crete

An unearthed tomb on Crete reveals a dynasty of priestesses reigned on the isle during the "Dark Ages" of ancient Greece.

In an Archaeology magazine report, writer Eti Bonn-Muller details the results from last summer's excavation of the tomb of Orthi Petra at Eleutherna on Crete, where a team found the burials of a high priestess of Zeus and three acolytes this summer.

"People then may have considered them sorceresses, or intermediaries with the gods," .... read more Article: usatoday.com

Greece backs new round of tax rises and spending cuts

The Greek government has approved a new package of tax rises and spending cuts to save 4.8bn euros ($6.5bn; £4.4bn) and ease its budget crisis.

The measures include a rise in sales and luxury taxes (VAT up from 19% to 21%. Taxes on petrol & cigarettes to rise again), a 30% cut in the holiday bonuses paid to civil servants, and a pensions freeze.

The EU had called for austerity measures amid fears that Greece's problems could undermine the eurozone... continue (BBC News)