Bringing you best wishes for St Maria Day in Corfu
On the eve of the Dormition of the Theotokos , the church bells toll and there is a procession through the village and a service in the church. In the central plateia, the men prepare the sperna , soaking great tubs of raisins in water before taking them inside the hall and locking the doors to mix them up with the boiled wheat, almonds and seeds and maybe a dash of ouzo. The key is turned from the inside and then the women and children are allowed in to run the production line. Their nimble fingers make quick work of putting the mixture into bags for tomorrow's service. And today, Marias in best clothes and newly-permed hair attend the morning service. There are older men in crisp white shirts and women in blocks of bright colours - orange, yellow, green - and widows in black. Inside the church, there is chanting, some singing and the congregation makes the sign of the cross in formation. Behind the screen of the iconostasis, the priest gets to work to make ...