Clean Monday – named after the cleansing of the soul and new beginnings – also known as koulouma.
It marks the first day of Lent, and is placed 40 days before the resurrection of Christ, and falls on 15 March (today) this year, before Greek Orthodox Easter on 2 May.
A public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, the day is celebrated with outdoor excursions and a consumption of shellfish and other food related to Lent.
Eating meat, eggs and dairy products is forbidden to Orthodox Christians throughout Lent with fish being eaten only on major feast days. Greeks typically celebrate koulouma by eating dolmades, shellfish, halva and taramosalata, a dish created from cured roe from cod, mixed with olive oil, lemon juice and bread crumbs which they spread on lagana, a kind of unleavened flatbread eaten on this day. The history of lagana dates back to the Old Testament and alludes to the help offered by God to the Israeli people while guiding them from Egypt to the promised land.
Another symbolic tradition this day finds its roots deep in ancient times – kite flying. It symbolises the elevation of the soul towards the heavens.
READ MORE: Top 10 Things to know about Lent
Greek children also create Kyra Sarakosti, known as Lady Lent. Without a mouth, ears and with seven legs, she is either created out of dough or in cardboard cut-outs. Children cut off one of her legs per week until Easter.
The mantra goes: “Kyra Sarakosti, no mouth has she. She neither talks nor eats. She has no ears, she does not hear gossip or idle speech. Upon her chest, her crossed arms rest, as she entreats Christ all day. And seven feet – no more, no less – has she to count the weeks. Each Saturday we cut off one of her seven feet. The last we hide some place inside some fruit or nuts or treats. The one who finds το τυχερό receives good luck in heaps.”