Customs

Throughout Epirus, but also in many parts of Macedonia, on Easter Sunday, but also throughout the spring, the custom of Zafiris is revived. The name varies from place to place, it is called Mayopoulos elsewhere, Fuskodentri elsewhere. In areas of the Northern Helladic area, very interesting magical events of the resurrection took place, representations of the rebirth of nature.

 

It is essentially a children's toy in which a child impersonates Zafeiris and represents the dead, while the rest collect flowers, grass and leaves and decorate him, while at the same time mourning him by holding reeds instead of candles. After the doom, all the children together shout "Get up, Zafiris, get up!" and the "dead" is resurrected from his flower-decorated bed and hunts, shouting and laughing at the other little ones.