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| Kites Near the Parthenon |
Clean Monday is the first of Lent in the Greek Orthodox Church, seven weeks before Easter. Lent actually begins the previous Sunday evening at a service called Forgiveness Vespers, where all the members of the congregation ask one another for forgiveness.
It is the first day of a long period of fasting from meat, eggs, dairy products and fish, during which, we should try to cleanse our minds and souls and improve our character. We should not lie, nor should we be arrogant nor jealous nor angry nor lazy nor greedy not lustful. It is a period of catharsis, in a way, but unfortunately, we can't all achieve these high goals. For instance, I fast, only, the first week of Lent and during Holy Week and I really do try to improve my character, usually unsuccessfully.
Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus. To celebrate the day, people go on picnics, where they fly kites and enjoy delicious lenten food, such as shellfish, molluscs, and fish roes, pulses, vegetables, salads and a wonderful, crispy bread called lagana.
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| Taramasalata, Olives and Lagana |
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| Laganas |
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