tradition
Greece and Cyprus: injured after Easter fireworks
Petrol bombs explode during celebrations of Orthodox Easter in Athens. photo
© Michael Varaklas/AP/dpa
Homemade dynamite bombs and similar dangerous constructions: It is not uncommon for people to be injured in countries around Easter. The police are now looking for those responsible.
Several people were injured during Easter fireworks in Greece and Cyprus last night. In the worst accident, a seven-year-old girl on the tourist island of Rhodes suffered severe burns and had to go to the hospital. A nine-year-old boy was injured in the eye in Cyprus.
The police are looking for those responsible, reported the media of the two countries, citing the police. In Athens, youths threw dozens of incendiary bottles on one of the central streets, state radio reported.
In Greece and Cyprus people are injured every year around Easter time. Especially young Orthodox Christians ignite big fireworks during the resurrection mass on Sunday night. On some islands, like Kalymnos, people use homemade dynamite bombs. The ignorant might get the impression that the Greeks are welcoming a new year.
The Orthodox Churches adhere to the Julian calendar in connection with Easter. The Gregorian calendar applies to both Catholics and Protestants. This usually leads to the fact that the Orthodox celebrate the most important festival of the church year at a different time from the other Christians. This year the Orthodox all over the world celebrate Easter on April 16th.