Lazarakia

Named after Saint Lazarus, this traditional spiced bread is popular throughout Greece and Cyprus. Prepared with yeasted dough that does not incorporate any milk or eggs, the bread is traditionally enjoyed on Lazarus Saturday that precedes the Holy Week. The dough is typically enriched with spices such as cinnamon or anise, and the final shape of the bread depicts a man wrapped in a shroud or with legs that are not fastened, symbolizing the resurrection of Lazarus. In both Greece and Cyprus, this small-sized bread is used in various activities that commemorate the occasion.