Culture & Events
13\04\2025
A Celebration of Light, Creativity, and Community – Leonidio`s Pascha
The small streets glow under the citrusy scent of handmade orange lanterns. Flickering candlelight dances inside hollowed bitter oranges, suspended like little stars. The air smells of incense and spring, and music—soft, familiar—flows from homes and courtyards.
It’s Holy Saturday in Leonidio, and the night sky is preparing for a transformation. As the church bells ring out the proclamation of the Resurrection, hundreds of Aerostata—colorful hot air balloons, lit from within—rise into the sky, like stars drawn upward by joy. Fireworks erupt, people cheer, and in that moment, the heavens themselves seem to celebrate.
To the visitor, Easter in Leonidio feels timeless—like a scene plucked straight from ancient tradition. But the real story is even more magical. These vibrant customs are not relics of a distant past. They are alive, breathing, evolving—expressions of the creative spirit and communal strength that define Leonidio today.
Traditions Made, Not Found
What makes Leonidio so special isn’t just its scenery, its architecture, or its legendary hospitality—though those are undeniably part of its charm. What sets it apart is the way this community embraces the act of inspiration. Easter in Leonidio is a living testament to that. From street lamps made of oranges to flying lanterns that defy gravity, what might seem ancient is often just a decade or two old—but deeply rooted in love, collaboration, and creativity.
Take the Aerostato, the glowing hot-air balloons that grace the Easter sky. As Eleni Manou shares, their story began not in ancient Greece, but sometime in the early 20th century. Local sailors, inspired by similar sights in Asia, brought the idea home. And the people of Leonidio? They embraced it. Today, entire families spend time together of building these delicate creations—crafted from paper, reed, and the secrets passed down each year. The color palette often nods to the town’s own red and yellow hues, but every balloon is a canvas for expression.
“There’s no real instruction manual,” Eleni says with a smile. “but everyone from Leonidio know to make it”
From One Porch to a Whole Neighborhood
Leonidio’s warmth doesn’t stop at the night sky. Just walk its streets on Good Friday, and you’ll feel it, the streets glow with a warm, citrus-scented light—thanks to a tradition that began with a simple gesture. Yorgos Hiotis shared with us how his mother, Angeliki, used to carve small lanterns from bitter oranges and place them by their door to brighten the holiday. The next year, she added a few more. Then the neighbors joined in, and slowly, the whole street lit up. Over time, what started as one woman’s heartfelt act grew into a beloved community ritual. Years later, the local business association—wanting to add something special to Easter—embraced the idea. Now, every year, residents come together to prepare hundreds of glowing lanterns, filling the town with light, scent, and the warmth of shared memory.
This isn’t folklore—it’s a living example of how traditions are born in Leonidio: one creative act, shared and multiplied.
The Spirit of Leonidio
Leonidio’s Easter isn’t just a beautiful celebration—it’s a mirror of its soul. A place where creativity thrives not in museums but in kitchens, balconies, workshops, and conversations. Where tradition is something you make, not just something you remember.
The Aerostato, the orange lanterns, the music, the food, the dancing—they’re all expressions of something deeper. The people of Leonidio are constantly reinventing beauty, and they invite you to be part of it.
So, come, Walk the glowing streets, Look up and lose yourself in a sky full of handmade stars. Join in. Share a story, a meal, a light.
With heartfelt thanks to Eleni Manou and Yorgos Hiotis, who shared their stories, and to the people of Leonidio, who continue to share their magic with the world.
Ofri – 16/04/2025