Easter on Chios Island

The custom of the Rocket War takes place on the evening of Holy Saturday, 19 April 2025, in Vrontado, Chios.



As part of the Easter celebrations, which this year fall on 20 April, events are held in various parts of Greece that pay tribute to the country's traditions and customs.

The custom of the Rocket War, whose roots go back centuries, uses shots of homemade fireworks (rockets) between the two largest parishes of the area, Agios Markos and Panagia Erythiani. In recent years, the number of rockets produced has reached several thousand, and the spectacle they present in the spring sky on the night of the Resurrection is truly spectacular. More and more people from Greece and abroad choose to spend their Easter in Chios to enjoy this unique spectacle. Visitors can enjoy this spectacular visual experience from the foothills of Mount Aepos, from where they have a panoramic view of the custom.

The two rival "crews" of the Rocketeers set off from the afternoon of Holy Saturday and parade along the coastal road of Vrontados. The two "rival" groups - the crews - march side by side, only to separate at the end of the route and each side takes the route to the "secret" location with the "rocket pads" (the homemade rocket launching pads) set up in each municipality. The rocket war was and still is the main event of the Easter celebrations in Chios. However, visitors can experience much more by discovering the hidden corners of the island.