Google Earth Community: Chios Easter rocket war

Every Easter Sunday on the small Greek island of Chios a fireworks war breaks out between two rival parishes.In a bizarre but long-cherished local tradition, two Orthodox churches in the town of Vrodandos fire rockets at each other's churches - while services are held.The objective is to hit the other church's bell, but many rockets go astray, causing locals to rush frantically for cover.And some say they are sick of having to repair their damaged homes.

So-called 'gangs' from the two rival parishes - Saint Mark and Panagia Erithiani - spend months preparing thousands of rockets.Several days before the event, residents carefully board up both churches' windows and doors and wrap wire sheeting around the buildings to protect worshippers.On Easter Sunday evening, as mass is said in both churches, the rival parish 'gangs' set to work, lighting fireworks and aiming them haphazardly at each other's church bells.

Locals are not sure of the tradition's origins, although it is possibly linked to stories of the island's sailors, who used to battle pirates with cannons installed on their ships and began a custom of firing them at Easter.In the late 19th Century, when Ottoman occupiers confiscated the cannons over fears they would be used in an uprising, locals resorted to firing rockets instead.Residents also admit it is not the most safety conscious of ceremonies, with several fires in recent years sparked by rockets and even a few deaths.

The rocket war

and aftermath:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3619425.stm
http://www.rocketwar.gr
youtube video 1
youtube video 2

Edited by redunzl (07/01/08 01:34 PM)

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