A Greek tradition with ceremonial crimson eggs enriches a family’s Easter celebrations
Story by Cara Clark, Photos by Sean Fresh
The holiest of holidays on the Christian calendar, a movable feast, brings rejoice into houses of worship and homes to celebrate the miracle of a savior’s promise of eternal life. No matter where in the world it is recognized, Easter’s meaning and traditions resonate differently among a devoted flock.
Each year, the season of rebirth and renewal is twice celebrated at the Mountain Brook home of Dr. Dennis and Kellie Pappas. Dennis, an ENT whose father is Greek and his mother Irish-Hungarian, was raised to celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter, which this year falls on May 5. Blending their heritages, the Pappases and their children also recognize Christian Easter, which lands on March 31 on the calendar, blending their traditions in the best of both worlds.
For Greek Orthodox Easter, the family includes red eggs in honor of an age-old Greek tradition. The red hue represents the blood of Christ, while the egg represents the resurrection of Jesus just as in Christian tradition, eggs signify the son of God’s emergence from the tomb and resurrection.
Along with the eggs comes another Greek tradition, tsougrisma or a battle among family members to attempt to crack the other’s egg in one-on-one battles, a skill Dennis’s father, also an ENT, has mastered, with a unique grasp on the egg. The person holding an uncracked egg at the game’s end is said to be blessed with luck for the year.
With in-laws who have long collected and gifted the couple with exquisite hand-painted Herend pieces, the table in their home is resplendent for the holy holidays, bringing together heirloom glassware with modern flatware and the traditional Herend Rothschild Bird porcelain. Kellie’s mother-in-law’s part Hungarian background might account for her love of the beautifully painted porcelain that heralds from that country. She also shares her fondness for birds with Kellie through gifts and tokens.
The enduring Rothschild Bird porcelain pattern illustrates a story in 12 different bird motifs on its plates, each featuring a pair of colorful birds with a necklace draped in branches. First created in 1860 for the Rothschild family of Europe, the classic designs convey the story of the 19th century Baroness Rothschild’s lost pearl necklace, which was later discovered in her Vienna garden in the grasp of mischievous birds. But perhaps those birds, even as they admire the shiny necklace, are simply trying to return it to its rightful owner — it’s a delight to interpret the tales told on an exquisite canvas of porcelain.
The Pappases have been known to grill a full lamb on a spit in the backyard as they celebrate Greek Easter tidings with dishes, such as spanakopita, that reflect the Mediterranean heritage. With heirloom finery and pieces they have collected, the setting for any occasion is as meaningful and memorable as it is a delight to the culinary enthusiasts enjoying Easter treats.
An elegant arrangement of Asiatic lilies, blush pink tulips, pittosporun, plunosus, spray roses, chocolate lace, mini green hydrangea, hypericum, lisianthus, peonies, scabiosa, snaps and stock pairs perfectly with the finest Spring celebration. Styling by Bromberg’s Jewelers in Birmingham, Alabama.
The astonishing finesse illustrated in each hand-painted Herend Rothschild Bird piece is a delight to the eye on the exquisitely set table with placemats and napkins are from Crown Linen Designs, pale pink beverage glasses made by Fostoria and the pattern is Versailles, wine glasses from Edgar Berebi and Sterling flatware is French Provincial. Herend figurines add a special Easter surprise to the setting. At right, the Greek tradition of dying eggs red and cracking them together in a game is honored in the Pappas home.
Each place setting in the Herend Rothschild Bird collection, which includes 12 themes, tells the stories of birds finding the lost necklace of a titled lady in her Vienna garden. Those stories extend to egg cups and a tea service in the Pappas home. Varying pairs of birds toy with the gilded strands tangled in the tree branches. The table settings interspersed with exquisite hand-painted Herend figurines. Behind the glorious table setting, a china cabinet is set in an alcove and holds an extensive Herend figurine collection — some family gifts and some collected by the couple. Each figurine represents the skilled attention to detail of Herend artists who paint the signature fishent patterns on the menagerie of animals.
