The crucifixion of a man is a violent event, and the Easter celebrations have always been surrounded by wild traditions: lambs drawn as prizes in school raffles, then slaughtered and roasted for the Easter table; ‘Lambrajias’, bonfires with the burning of the traitor Judas; re-enactments of the crucifixion and resurrection; and the sound of ‘boom’ firecrackers, resulting in injuries and even deaths.
This year, with a bit of luck and increased police presence, we fared well. Not a single finger was sacrificed to feel the passion of Christ and the awe of the Resurrection. However, the news during these days seems like it comes from a war zone:
On Holy Saturday, in the Ypsonas to Erimi road area, a group of youths with covered faces were throwing Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at passing vehicles. Members of the Riot Squad and the MMAD (Εmergency Response Unit) were dispatched but were attacked with Molotov cocktails, fireworks, firecrackers, and stones, prompting the police to use chemicals. Despite this, the youths managed to escape after burning a police car and damaging four others.
In Kiti, dozens of youths rioted when they discovered that someone had burned the wood they had collected for their bonfire. They started throwing stones and firecrackers at the police officers who were called to restore order and also at a nearby house, causing various damages.
In Livadia, Larnaca, a primary school was vandalised, with broken windows, burned desks, and destroyed children’s notebooks.
In another school in the Strovolos area, police officers stopped a car and found 11 firework launchers and 115 firecrackers.
In Larnaca, in the Pyla area, a woman driving with her 13-year-old child was found with 40 firecrackers and two fireworks in her car. In another car in the same area, driven by a 49-year-old man with his 14-year-old child, 80 firecrackers and two fireworks were found.
In the Paphos region, police officers stopped a 21-year-old man walking near a church where firecrackers had been set off earlier. During the search, 17 firecrackers were found in his possession. In total, about 5,500 firecrackers were confiscated.
Of course, Easter and its symbolism are not to blame. Judging by the ages of those arrested—two 14-year-olds and a 16-year-old for the Kiti incident and a 10-year-old allegedly involved in the Livadia episode—it is clear that the violence in schools and stadiums is spilling over into other areas.
And the solution is not more policing. As for the parents who carry firecrackers with their children in the car, what can one say?
This, in itself, shows what is wrong. A society that cannot ressurect.
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