Greeks perceive Easter as an opportunity to let off steam. Having spent the last 40 days honouring Lenten fast, it comes as no surprise that these epicurean people revert to some of life's more sensorial pleasures.

By 11am on Easter Saturday the majority of Corfu's population are eagerly awaiting the end of the morning service. As soon as the botos (church bells) sound, it's a signal for every man, woman and child to hurl earthenware vessels from their windows on to the streets.

This noisy custom originated in Corfu town but has extended to the villages. It is derived from the Venetians who, on New Year's Day, used to throw their old things from the windows in order to receive new ones for the New Year. The Corfiots adopted this custom to celebrate the most important Greek holiday, the Greek Easter. Nowadays, the old things have been replaced by pots and jugs full of water, which make for an even louder noise upon impact.

It is thought that the peculiar custom may also have roots in the biblical passage "Thou, O Lord, raise me up, that I may crush them as a potter's vessel", and as Easter falls in the beginning of the plantation season, the time when newly-harvested produce from the land was stored in new pots and the old ones were destroyed.