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The blessed by the Saint donuts in Corfu
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Photo credits: Anastasios Kotinas
The blessed by the Saint donuts of Corfu
Destination:
Greece, Ionian Islands, Corfu
Date:
12.12.2020
Experience Seekers
Happy Saint Spyridon day! Saint Spyridon is the patron Saint of Corfu, the “Saint” as they call him in Corfu. Saint Spyridon’ celebration is on the 12nd of December, but the feasts in Corfu last for 3 full days. On the 11th of December, people of Corfu, to honor their Saint, established the custom "donuts of the Saint", which are none other than the famous donuts of Corfu.
Happy Saint Spyridon day!
Saint Spyridon is the patron Saint of Corfu, the “Saint” as they call him in Corfu. Saint Spyridon’ celebration is on the 12nd of December, but the feasts in Corfu last for 3 full days. On the 11th of December, people of Corfu, to honor their Saint, established the custom "donuts of the Saint", which are none other than the famous donuts of Corfu.
The story
In every village, in every house, where at least one member of the family or friends is named after the Saint, housewives prepare the most delicious donuts, “the donuts of the Saint”, as the locals call them. This custom goes back 400 years. Since then, every year at Saint Spyridon eve, people savour their tastes with these delicious donuts. But what is the story behind them? Locals, to honour Saint Spyridonas, spend the night next to the Saint, as according to the Corfiot tradition, the custom starts from the need of the faithful to be able to withstand the vigil next to Agios Spyridonas, whose sacred shrine will remain open for three days for pilgrimage. In order to be able to be awake all night long, they needed to eat before something sweet, that would give them energy. The recipe of the “blessed” by the Saint donuts, as the locals calls them, is kept secretly. Wherever you go in Corfu, you will find that alleys are full of cinnamon smell and hot donuts, that even the itinerants are selling.
The official celebration day
On the 12th of December, the official celebration day of the Saint, sets the official opening of Christmas season in Corfu. Corfiots are proud for their Saint, and celebrate vividly: various philharmonic schools are paying merry go rounds, everybody is in the streets, wearing celebration customs!
Officially Merry Christmas Greetings from Corfu!
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