Clean Monday (or Ash Monday) marks the end of the Greek Carnival and the beginning of Great Lent for the Orthodox Christians. Yet it gives everyone a great opportunity to take off for a relaxing long weekend with their family and friends.
Get ready to celebrate the last and most exciting days of the Carnival and enjoy Clean Monday…the traditional way!
All over Greece the carnival spirit comes to life so wear the most colourful costume, bring along your kite and take off…
Anywhere you go join the weekend festivities, masquerade balls and parades, dances and feasts. On Clean Monday search for the perfect spot to sit under the open sky, right in the heart of nature and enjoy an authentic lent picnic also known as “Koulouma”.
Shellfish and seafood, azyme bread (lagana), fish roe salad (taramosalata), halva (sweet confection), dried beans, peas and lentils will get you into the fasting spirit and prepare you for the Resurrection and Easter Sunday. As soon as you are done with your meal, get away from the crowds and fly your kite.
Weather permitting… your only limit is the sky!
It sounds temping, but where would you go?
The flour battle of Galaxidi
Partake in the fume and colorized-flour battle of Galaxidi, from the narrow streets of the city all the way to the picturesque harbour and be prepared to get coloured!!! Enjoy the “Koulouma” picnic from 10 am at the Mama square by the harbour and the masquerade parade at 11 am.
At 2:30 pm…beware…because it will start pouring fume and colorized flour.
The hick wedding of Thebes
At Epaminondas square enjoy the open air fires, burning from early in the morning, traditional dances around the fire, folk music and wine. A little later the lent picnic is held at the chapel of Agia Triada while, at 2 pm, get ready to join the preparation and celebration of a traditional hick wedding.
Watch the shaving of the groom, the procession of the couple towards the church on a horse-drawn carriage and the meeting of the parents-in-law signalling the beginning of celebrations going on until the first morning hours.
Agas Custom in Chios
At the villages of Mesta and Olympi the custom of Agas, deriving from the Turks, revives with Agas being the strict judge assigned by the residents of the village to condemn most of the people that are present.
The “condemned” have to somehow buy off their sentence creating a humorous scene.
And those are only three examples of Clean Monday celebrations…all over Greece Clean Monday is celebrated in a special way!
Wherever you choose to go, expect to be greeted by tradition, local customs and the world renowned Greek hospitality.
