Watch the Chios Rocket War 2025: Greece’s Fiery Easter Tradition Roars On

If you’ve never heard of the Chios Rocket War before, you’re in for a treat. Every Easter, the sleepy seaside town of Vrontados on the Greek island of Chios turns into something out of an action film. We’re talking thousands of homemade rockets lighting up the night sky in a fiery clash between two rival churches. It’s loud, chaotic, and utterly spectacular — and yes, it’s completely real.

This year, on Saturday 19th April 2025, the tradition continued with its signature mix of pageantry, community rivalry, and a frankly bonkers number of rockets. Here’s everything you need to know about this unique event, complete with a video from the night itself.

Where Faith Meets Firepower: The Origins of the Chios Rocket War

Known locally as Rouketopolemos (literally “Rocket War”), this Easter custom is believed to date back to at least the 19th century, if not earlier. The tradition pits two Orthodox churches — Agios Markos and Panagia Ereithiani — against one another in a good-natured (but fierce) rocket battle. Each church fires thousands of handmade rockets toward the other’s bell tower. The aim? Ring the opposing bell more times than yours gets hit. The outcome? Both sides typically claim victory, and everyone agrees to do it all over again next year.

As for where this idea came from, most locals will tell you it harks back to Ottoman times. Legend has it that real cannons were once used to mark Easter celebrations until the ruling authorities banned them in 1889. Rather than admit defeat, the townsfolk got creative and invented their own fireworks. What started as a workaround quickly turned into a full-blown annual showdown.

Rockets, Rivalry and Remarkable Precision

Preparation for the Chios Rocket War is no small feat. Each church crafts anywhere from 25,000 to 60,000 rockets using a traditional method involving wooden sticks packed with a homemade gunpowder mix. That’s tens of thousands of miniature missiles, all aimed with surprising accuracy across a 400-metre valley separating the churches.

On the night of Holy Saturday, just before midnight Mass begins, the skies above Vrontados erupt in a thunderous symphony of crackles, flashes, and colour. It’s a carefully choreographed kind of chaos, with both churches wrapped in wire mesh and protective barriers to minimise damage. And while it looks utterly mad to the uninitiated, there’s a strong sense of organisation and pride running through it all.

This isn’t just an excuse to light a few fireworks — it’s a deep-rooted community event. Local families, many of whom have been involved for generations, come together to plan, build, and launch the rockets. Even the rivalry between the two parishes is mostly playful, built on mutual respect and a shared love of tradition (with just a splash of competitive spirit).

A Global Draw with a Local Heart

Though it’s deeply tied to Orthodox Easter, the Chios Rocket War has become something of an international curiosity. Every year, tourists and journalists descend on the island to witness the spectacle first-hand. It’s been featured in travel documentaries and viral videos — and for good reason. There’s really nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world.

Of course, with that kind of attention comes scrutiny. Concerns have been raised in recent years about safety, particularly around property damage and the sheer number of rockets being fired. But local authorities and church leaders have worked hard to keep the event well-managed. Rockets are carefully regulated, safety measures are constantly improved, and the whole thing operates within a tight-knit community that’s fiercely protective of its heritage.

For those lucky enough to experience it in person, the Chios Rocket War is more than just a show. It’s a passionate expression of faith, history, and local pride — all wrapped up in one adrenaline-charged night.

Watch the 2025 Rocket War in Action

Words don’t quite do this justice — so we recommend watching this year’s battle for yourself. Here's a video of the 2025 event, showcasing the unbelievable scale and spectacle of this age-old Easter tradition:

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