Annual ‘rocket war’ Easter tradition ignites skies over Greek Island

Apr 20, 2025

Vrontados, Chios (Greece), April 20, 2025 (ANI): Locals in the town of Vrontados on the Greek island of Chios marked Orthodox Easter with a centuries-old tradition known as the “rocket war”. As part of Easter celebrations thousands of homemade rockets are fired that lit up the night sky at midnight on Holy Saturday. Parishioners from the rival churches of Panagia Erithiani and Saint Mark lined up rockets on opposite hills and launched them at each other’s bell towers. Astronomer Stamatios Krimigis said the custom has long been seen as a rite of passage for young people. It is Greece’s one of most striking and enduring Easter customs.