I have to warn you and ask for your indulgence during our Great Lent as there are so many religious, cultural and traditional rituals and customs happening and I would  dearly love to share some of them with you over the next 40 days. So here goes!   

Greece is a country full of cultural and religious traditions – and one celebration which is a bit of both is Clean Monday or “Kathari Deftera”. 

Let’s take a look at some of the elements that constitute one of the most important days of the year for Orthodox Christians. 

Clean Monday commences the 40-day period of Lent, or “Sarakosti” for the Eastern Orthodox church.

The celebrations for Clean Monday always coincide with the first day of the 7th week before Orthodox  Pascha (Easter Sunday). 

On the preceding Sunday people start off by attending a special evening service, asking for forgiveness to start off the Lent period with a clear conscious and clean soul.

Also, Clean Monday brings to an end the Carnival celebrations that take place for around one month throughout the country in the time period leading up to the beginning of Lent.

Food is also an important part of the Clean Monday celebration as Greeks begin the traditional Orthodox Lent which forbids the consumption of meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. We started our time of strict fasting and abstinence today. 

Most households celebrate the beginning of Lent with a meal of shellfish, octopus and “taramasalata” which is a traditional dip made from salted roe, breadcrumbs, lemon and oil – which goes just perfectly with the special “lagana”” bread that is consumed on Clean Monday. 

Yesterday, known as Cheesefare Sunday, was the last time we could consume any dairy products until Easter. 

Last week was  Meatfare Sunday and was the last day for eating meat, fish or eggs. 

So, in effect, we are now strict vegans for 40 plus days. 

Kathara Deftera means no red or white meat, fish, dairy products, or eggs are permitted but you can enjoy shellfish, octopus and calamari and anything else that doesn’t have any blood or is related to animal products.

Believe me the Lent cuisine is very healthy, varied and tasty. The Greeks have made fasting food into an art! 

We celebrate the beginning of Great Lent with a special kind of unleavened bread called Lagana (Λαγάνα), the once-a-year bread which is baked and eaten ONLY on this day.

Lagana is a Greek flatbread that has a crunchy crust and a soft and airy inside and is very more-ish. 

The history of this sesame-crusted bread with its distinctive indentations goes as far back as the Old Testament symbolising  the manna God gave the Israelites on their journey from Egypt to the promised land. 

Lagana was mentioned in the 5th century BC by the Greek poet Aristophanes and the name stems from the Graeco-Roman word “ laganon” denoting a simple thin flatbread eaten by the poor. 

It looks like foccaccio bread and is made with basic ingredients and just a little simple seasoning with salt and herbs but it is so flavorful and crunchy on the outside with the nutty taste of toasted sesame seeds and it’s springy and soft on the inside – just perfect for scooping up your taramasalata, hummus, skordalia or sweet halva. You know Greeks – we can turn fasting into feasting anytime!

Fasting in itself is not just a seasonal custom but is used as a means of attaining certain spiritual values and also to encourage self-discipline and to make us more aware of our responsibility to others.  

It’s also a time of self-introspection where we cut out judgements, unnecessary anger, hurtful envy and gossip, foul language and selfish choices. 

It’s not something to show off about – better to share your Lenten plan only with God – that’s what truly matters. 

This is a great opportunity to think  of others. For instance, you can decide to donate to the poor, volunteer to help those in need, give more of yourself to others and so on. 

Today is called  Kathera Deftera or Clean Monday because people have confessed their sins, sought forgiveness and can approach Lent with a clean mind, calm conscience and receptive body and soul (our version of Ash Wednesday). 

We also  start wishing each other Kali Sarakosti  ( Καλή Σαρακοστή ) from today which is the Lent greeting literally meaning Happy Forty Days.

It comes from the word “Tessaracoste” which means the forty day period until Palm Sunday and then one more week until Easter Sunday which makes a total of 49 days of fasting. 

We view Lent as a very blessed and special part of our lives and Faith and rejoice on this the first day. 

Kathara Deftera is a big public holiday in Greece with special events and picnics when families and friends celebrate the Lenten season with delicious fasting foods and of course Lagana to mop it all up and then it’s time to go fly a kite -literally!

So why kites?

The colourful kites dance above nudging the clouds marking and reminding us of the transition into the season of Great Lent and they also symbolise the passing of  our souls to Heaven, the coming Resurrection of Christ and some believe  that the higher the kites fly, our prayers fly with them straight to God’s ears! 

In the olden days, the kites were carefully crafted on wooden frames with paper stretched across and it was a family tradition handed down for generations.

Of course the modern versions are big and bold and colourful and made for fun. 

Did you know that kite flying is as old as the Olympian hills? The Greek mathematician and engineer Archytas tried his hand at experimenting with kites in 400 BC to test his aerodynamic theories. Yes those old-timers certainly were up on things! 

That’s it for today. I am about to finish the last few crusts of my Lagana  bread ! 

May we all be blessed and protected during this holy season and always. Wishing you, one and all, Kali Sarakosti. XXX