Καθαρά Δευτέρα (or koulouma) is one of the most important public holidays in Greece. It is celebrated 50 days before Orthodox Easter and marks the end of Carnival and the beginning of the Lent period.
But where does the name of this special day come from? There are two different possible explanations: according to a first, a bit forced hypothesis the name is linked to the habits of the housewives on this date, so busy cleaning pots after the end of the carnival that they don't have time for anything else. The second and more probable explanation is related to its function in the Orthodox liturgy. After the consumption of large quantities of meat during the carnival (the climax is reached with the Tsiknopempti, the Thursday dedicated exclusively to grilled meat and its aroma), clean Monday has in fact the task of purifying the body and soul and preparing believers to Easter.
The Clean Monday celebrations have kite flying as their main activity. Weather permitting, adults and children fly a kite (once built at home, now usually purchased for this purpose) and engage in a fun family activity. The kite symbolizes the human soul, which in Lent lightens and rises purer into the sky. Through the flight, believers prepare for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Orthodox Easter.
As with other days of Lent, eating meat and dairy products is also prohibited on Kathara Deftera day. On the tables and in the picnic baskets there are some typical dishes, including lagana (flat bread prepared without yeast, a remembrance of the unleavened bread of the Jews), taramosalata (fish roe sauce), seafood and shellfish, fasolada white beans often accompanied by salted sardines) and finally a very sweet halva (dessert with semolina, very popular for clean Mondays because it does not contain olive oil, butter or eggs).
The children also prepare their own Kyra Sarakosti, the Greek lady of Lent, a sort of calendar that marks the 7-week fasting period until Easter. Usually Kyra Sarakosti is depicted with a cross on her head which represents her Christian faith, without a mouth because she is fasting, with her ears covered so as not to listen to gossip and with seven legs, one for each week of Lent. Every Saturday one of the legs is taken off. Custom has it that the last leg is hidden inside an Easter bread or in a bowl of fruit which will then be offered to the guests. Whoever finds Kyra Sarakosti's last leg will be blessed with luck, a bit like whoever finds the dime in the Vasilopita on New Year's Day.
One of the most fascinating and admirable qualities of the Greek people is their attachment to traditions. Whether you decide to spend this day traveling to discover the many local events, in the kitchen with your children preparing your Kyra Sarakosti or sitting on a lawn watching the kites and enjoying the spring sun, today it will certainly be a special day. Write to us which of the Clean Monday traditions impressed you the most!
