Photo Gallery The Chios Rocket Wars
Every year on Orthodox Easter, two rival parishes in a town on the Greek island of Chios fire thousands of rockets at each other. It's tradition.
If the annual Eaaster egg hunt isn't your cup of tea, why not head for the Greek island of Chios. There, the locals fire rockets at each other.
Foto: REUTERS
Two rival parishes battle it out on the night before Orthodox Easter. The goal of the fight is to hit the bell tower of the opposing church.
Foto: REUTERS
While the missile melee is going on outside, the more pious residents of the town try to concentrate on mass being said inside the churches.
Foto: REUTERS
Some residents of the town, called Vrontados, aren't that impressed with the tradition, given that houses hit by errant missiles have a tendency to burn down.
Foto: REUTERS
The origins of the projectile fight are somewhat murky, but it likely originated in the late 19th century when the island was occupied by the Ottomans.
Foto: REUTERS
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