What Should I Bring to Greek Easter?

Written by Greek Boston in Greek Easter Traditions Comments Off on What Should I Bring to Greek Easter?

Are you going to be attending a Greek Easter celebration and don’t know what to do? Those outside of the Greek culture may not quite understand the gusto that Greeks pour into this holiday. The celebrations could last all day, and this is in contrast to how people in other cultures, like in the United States, celebrate Easter.

If you are invited to a Greek Easter, you might be wondering what you should bring. First of all, simple hostess gifts like wine, dessert, or even flowers are always welcome. However, you might want to consider taking the extra step to give something a little more relevant. Here are some ideas:

Greek Wine

Instead of simply bringing any bottle of wine, why not take things to the next level and bring Greek wine? There are so many Greek wines that are found all over Greece, and they are all great additions to the Easter meal. Not only that, but most Greeks love the wines from their country. Even if they don’t choose to serve it at Easter, you know that you will enjoy it some other time.

Greek Brandy (Metaxa)

Tired of gifting wine and want to do something a little different? Tracking down some Greek Brandy, usually sold under the “Metaxa” brand name, is a nice alternative. This is a great after dinner drink and should be taken in small amounts in a brandy glass. If you want to go the extra mile, consider gifting the brandy glasses, as well!

Koulourakia

Instead of alcoholic beverages, you might rather bring something sweet for dessert. If you want to do something traditional, consider bringing Koulourakia, which are the traditional Greek Easter cookies. These cookies are made with plenty of butter and depending on the recipe, extra flavoring such as orange or Ouzo. Our version is made Metaxa and is sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Tsoureki

Another traditional Greek dish that is served at Easter is known as Tsoureki, or Greek Easter bread. This sweet, cake-like bread is a staple at the Greek Easter table and makes for a nice hostess gift. Our version is sweet and contains plenty of sugar. It is also finished with toasted sesame seeds. If you can’t find mahleb to make your version, consider substituting with nutmeg, cinnamon, orange or lemon zest, or even Ouzo. This bread usually has a red Easter egg baked in.

Koulouria

Do you want to bring something traditional to eat that isn’t as common koulourakia or tsoureki? Consider making these sweet Easter buns instead! The dough is similar to tsoureki with some differences. The major difference is that the dough is made into rolls and there are no eggs baked in.

If you are planning to attend a Greek Easter celebration, consider bringing one of these items as a gift!

Categorized in: Greek Easter Traditions

This post was written by Greek Boston