The flight of kites symbolizes the passage of the soul to Heaven and the effort made by man to reach the Divine. The higher the kite will fly, the more prayers will be heard by God. Flying the kites therefore serves to begin the path of Lenten purification in the right way but also symbolizes in a broader sense the effort we make to change our life and achieve our goals.

To play down a little bit, chasing kites is also a fun physical activity after lockdown excesses, an opportunity to recover carefree and rediscover simple pleasures with the little ones. Clean Monday can be an excellent opportunity to share time and precious memories with children and grandchildren and it is with them that you could prepare your Κυρά Σαρακοστή (literally Lady Lent), the recipe that with great pleasure we present today with #ciboinvaligia.

Kyra Sarakosti, a "cookie" in the shape of a woman, is a real Lenten calendar. Its 7 feet represent the seven weeks of the pre-Easter fast. Every week, on Saturdays, children can take one foot off. When the last one is cut, it is traditional to put this foot in a bowl with fruit and nuts to share with the family. Whoever finds the foot will have a special blessing.

Kyra Sarakosti has no mouth to remember Lenten fasting and she has no ears, reminding us that fasting is not just about certain dishes but also about bad habits like listening to gossip. The cross that decorates her head represents the Easter religious services, her hands are joined in prayer.

There are many versions of Kyra Sarakosti. In some areas of Greece she is portrayed as a nun while in others she is a prosperous and festive looking lady. The figure is sometimes mixed with non-edible salt dough, in other cases it is packaged with padded fabric.

Our version is edible, vegan and fun, just not to be missed! You can find the receipe on the Instagram account #ciboinvaligia, try it and send us a picture of your Kyra Sarakosti!

photo credit: giorgiostsoulis.com