 Lazarakia on a plate | |
| Type | Sweetbread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Greece andCyprus |
| Main ingredients | Sweetspices |
Lazarákia (Greek:Λαζαράκια, "Little Lazaruses") are small, sweetspicebreads made in Greece and Cyprus byOrthodox Christians onLazarus Saturday, the Saturday that sets theHoly Week in motion. They are eaten to celebrate the miracle ofJesus raisingLazarus from the dead. They are shaped like a man wrapped in ashroud, supposedly SaintLazarus of Bethany, withcloves for eyes. They contain several sweet spices and are a fastingLenten food, meaning that they do not contain any dairy products or eggs. For that reason, unlike thetsourekia, they are brushed witholive oil instead ofegg orbutter for a gloss finish.[1][2]
Women inLipsi were symbolically equated with theVirgin Mary and part of the symbolism of Holy Week was that of death experienced through motherhood. Though in modern timeslazarákia are mostly purchased at the bakery, in past times women would knead the dough for thelazarákia, shaped in human form, as the symbol of life overcoming death. One of thelazaráki would be kept in the home for the entire year and either eaten the following year or thrown into the sea to be eaten by fish.[3]
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