On the eve of Lazarus, today Friday, April 26, 2024, we will revive the custom of re-enacting the Resurrection of Lazarus and sing carols.
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With our “Lazarias” from 6.30 in the afternoon, we will go out to sing carols, in the squares of the villages of Elaiohori, Fostaina, Ano Sudenaiiko, Zisimaiiko, Arla.
Anyone who wants can freely participate, and sing carols with us.
The carols of Lazarus
Custom of Western Achaia
A very old custom that our ancestors have passed down from generation to generation, are the carols of Lazarus.
With the initiative and organization of the President of the Association
“Green Action P. D. E.”
Maria Koutroumani,
we will revive this custom “the Lazars” to keep the traditions alive which are a basis for the future and the next generations.
The following clubs will participate:
Parents of Arla Primary School
Ano Sudeneikon
Zisimaikon “The Egyptian Castle”
Eleochori
The communities:
Upper Sudeneika
Arla
Zisimaiika – Floka
Olive village
Fostainas
A few words about the custom…
In the past, on the eve of Lazarus, they went and sang carols:
Small and large pedestrians but also on horses, wrapped in sheets, held the Lazarus, which are Crosses that I bear are placed, bells and cypresses tied with a red ribbon.
While singing the carols, they shake them loudly, because the sound of the bells and cypresses drives away the miasma, demons, evil spirits and generally everything that is bad.
The Cross symbolizes the resurrection of Lazarus. The palm trees that make up the wreath symbolize the coming of Jesus on Palm Sunday.
That there are three Lazarus symbolizes the Holy Trinity. It is good, it is a blessing, they say, to keep a Lazarus.
They also hold torches whose light they emit symbolizes renewal, purification, cleansing power.
Another person holds a basket decorated with trinkets in which they put the gratuities they passed from the houses they went to.
If someone didn’t open for the carols, or didn’t tip them, they took whatever they found in their yard
and the next day they took it back, but in order to give it to him, the landlord had to tip them..
