Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Picture provided by Maria Treskas

Food and Festivals

One of the most significant roles in the Greek Orthodox community is the connection between tradition and cuisine. Rather it is in celebration of a feast day, an important holiday, communion, a typical family meal, or a fifty day fast. Food is essential to tradition and in uniting friends and family throughout the Greek community.

Being first and foremost traditionally Greek, the Greek Orthodox cuisine tends to be simple and rich in flavor. Olive oil is present in almost every dish, favorite vegetables include: tomatoes, aborigine, potatoes, green beans, okra, green peppers, and onions. Greek cuisine uses more spices than other Mediterranean foods such as oregano, mint, garlic, onion, dill, salt, bay laurel leaves, basil, thyme, and fennel seeds. The flavors of Greek [food]  are typically characterized by the use of nutmeg and mint. Many Greek recipes often pair sweet spices with meat dishes. Due to the Greek terrain, the herding of goats and sheep are preferable over cattle and thus the use of lamb is more natural over beef.  Fish dishes are also common, along with a wide variety of cheeses. 

Customs and cuisine are generally tied closely together. Religious holidays, feast days, funerals, weddings, baptisms, and days of fast each have their own food specialties. Koufeta, candy covered almonds, are distributed at weddings and baptisms. Koliva, boiled wheat, is handed out at funerals. On the feast day of their namesake five loafs of Artoklasia bread brought to church to be blessed. Christmas, the second most important feast day, is a day filled with the delectable aroma of Kataifi, Baklava, Diples, and Christopsomo. Roast Lamb with Potatoes, and Savory Turkey stuffed with chestnuts and pine nuts, are also favored. After Christmas, the preparation for New Year’s Eve begins. The New Year’s bread, Vasilopita, is baked with what used to be a gold coin but over the years has been replaced by a metal coin placed on top of the bread. The coin is said to bring good fortune to whoever has the piece of bread with the coin in it.

The Greek Orthodox Paschal is the most important feast day. Paschal (Easter) starts with The Great Lent, beginning on Clean Monday and lasting till Easter Sunday. For fifty days members of the Greek Orthodox community fast, abstaining from foods that contain any animals with red blood, (meats, poultry, game) any products derived from animals (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.), and fish and seafood with backbones. A history of a diet that leans heavily toward the vegetarian has resulted in an array of delicious foods that meet Lenten requirements. On Easter the fasting is broken. Friends and family crack their Easter eggs against each other’s. The Eggs are dyed on Holy Thursday and then blessed at the midnight service on Holy Saturday. They are dyed red in order to represent a new life inside a tomb. The cracking is a reminder of the sound of the stone being rolled away from Christ's tomb. At dawn on Easter Sunday the traditional main dish of the day is whole roasted lamb to that represent the Lamb of God. Greek wines such as ouzo, and other drinks flow freely, and preparations for the meal turn into festive celebrations. Easter menu will likely include bourekia (hot, savory phyllo pastry appetizers), roast lamb (symbolic of Christ as the Lamb of God), potatoes or pastitsio (a layered dish of meat sauce, macaroni, cheese and cream sauce), a relish plate of celery, radishes, olives and sheep-milk cheese such as feta.

An important aspect of the Greek community in Asheville is the Greek Festival. The Greek Festival occurs annually in Asheville and is sponsored by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.  The festival is held at Pack Plaza and is a three day event. The festival includes live music, dancing, story tellers, guest speakers,  native costumes for the performers, game booths in the “Kid’s Corner,” and a Greek grocery store called  Bakaliko, which offers novelties, goods, jewelry, clothing, and religious items. Then there is, of course, the main attraction of the festival: Food! Members of the Holy Trinity Church prepare all the traditional Greek foods they were raised on in the church’s kitchen. The foods served at the festival range anywhere from pastichio to Greek meatballs; from Spanakopita to Greek salads.  A portion of all the proceeds earned go toward local charities.