Ash or Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) | 23 Feb 2015
35.5083° N, 23.9767° E
Ash or Clean Monday is a day of joy and excitement in Greece and one of the most anticipated days of the year! On this day old traditional customs are brought to life again. It is called "clean" because it marks the start of the Lenten period during which the bodies and spirits are "cleansed" to prepare for accepting the Resurrection.
Greeks gather - as families, friends, or entire communities - to enjoy a day of kite-flying, music, dancing and picnics with traditional food such as taramosalata, lagana bread, wild greens, beans, olives, etc. The food eaten on this day is mainly vegetarian, with the exception of shellfish.