“Kathari Deftera,” Greek for
Clean Monday, is considered to be one of the most important feasts all over
Greece, each year commencing the 40-day period of the Great Lent for the
Eastern Greek Orthodox Church, which is called “Sarakosti.” The feast begins on
the first day of the 7th week before the Orthodox Easter Sunday.
Clean Monday also puts an end
to the preceding Carnival celebrations, inviting all Orthodox Christians to
leave behind the sinful attitudes associated with Carnival festivities and
non-fasting foods, which were largely consumed during the three weeks of the
Carnival.
Liturgically, Clean Monday—and thus Lent itself—begins
on the preceding (Sunday) night, at a special service called
Forgiveness Vespers, which culminates with the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness,
at which all present will bow down before one another and ask forgiveness. In
this way, the faithful begin Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness,
and with renewed Christian love. The entire first week of Great Lent is often referred
to as "Clean Week," and it is customary to go to Confession during
this week, and to clean the house thoroughly.
Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus,
where it is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish
and other fasting food, a
special kind of azyme bread, baked only
on that day, named "lagana" (Greek: λαγάνα) and the widespread custom of flying kites. Eating
meat, eggs and dairy products is traditionally forbidden to Orthodox Christians
throughout Lent, with fish being eaten only on major feast days, but shellfish
is permitted in European denominations. A traditional dip made of the
salted and cured roe from carp or cod, mixed with olive oil, lemon juice and
bread crumbs, called “taramosalata,” is also part of the products consumed on
Clean Monday. Accompanying these
delights are also black-eyed beans or just common baked beans, grape-leaf
wrapped rice balls called “dolma” and of course some Greek wine or tsipouro.
As for dessert, an alteration
to the familiar Arab “halva” is served, which is made of tahini, a sesame
paste, and sugar, often combined by nuts or chocolate and baked in a square or
cylindrical shape.
Clean Monday, however, is not
only associated with eating fasting products, but features also many traditions
being held all over Greece. Traditionally, as Clean Monday is considered to
mark the beginning of the spring season, kite flying is also part of the
tradition. Young people and adults organize excursions to open areas, so as to
fill the skies with their kites. Apart from kite flying, many areas in Greece
maintain their own regional customs.
The feast of Clean Monday and
all associated traditions and celebrations are in the hearts of the Greek
people, as they provide an opportunity for leisure and escaping from the daily
routine, while coming in contact with nature and the country’s cultural
heritage.
Popi Chantzi, Greece
fasting food
lagana
kite flying
