THE CHIOS ROCKET WAR

This must be one of the most bizarre events we’ve blogged about this year.

The Chios rocket war takes place in Vrontados, Greece, and is just as chaotic as it sounds.

On the island of Chios, stand two rival parishes, Angios Marcos and Panaghia Ereithiani.

They stand around 400 metres apart from each other, and it is rumoured their rivalry began way back in the Ottoman era.

The basis of this rivalry is that each year around Easter time, the parishes fire flaming rockets towards each other, intent on striking the bell tower of the opposing side.

Until the late 1800’s, actual cannons were used to fire the mini missiles, but since these were banned, both parishes have now resorted to using home-made rockets!

The craziest part of this tradition? Whilst the war is going off, mass is celebrated inside the churches!

The winner is the side who struck the opposing church’s bell tower the most times…

However, most years, they agree on a draw and decide to settle the dispute again the following year!

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