The Greek community’s Easter weekend, celebrated on April 18 and 19, is a time of togetherness and tradition, of family and faith.
2020 was a little different, however, because the coronavirus lockdown meant Greek people were unable to go to church or gather afterwards for a celebratory meal. These unprecedented times did not stop Despina Ballidis, a Greek resident of Rand Aid’s Inyoni Creek retirement village, from honouring her traditions, albeit on her own.
Despina baked a loaf of the traditional sweet bread called tsoureki, Greek cookies and dyed hard-boiled eggs. The eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ, while the egg itself symbolises the empty tomb from which Jesus Christ arose after Ηis Crucifixion.
Despina Ballidis with her Easter goodies.
