The sight of colourful kites in the sky in Cyprus means that it’s Green Monday, the beginning of Great Lent.
Green Monday is also known as Orthodox Shrove Monday or Ash Monday. In Cyprus, Green Monday is a public holiday, a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
Traditions of Clean Monday
Green Monday begins the season of 40-day Great Lent because of the 40 days that Jesus is said to have spent fasting the desert.
This first day of Great Lent is called “Clean Monday” because Christians should begin the holy season with “clean hearts and good intentions.” It is also because the season of Lent is regarded as a time for when Christians should clean up their spiritual house, coming to terms with their lives and rededicating themselves to a more holy and righteous way of living.
Because Green Monday is also considered to mark the first day of spring, people tend to celebrate it with outdoor activities and picnics rather than fasting and prayer. These activities are often called ‘koulouma’.
In Cyprus, fasting is not considered to be an ordeal. In fact, it is simply viewed as an opportunity to be closer to God. Thus, the beginning of the Great Lent is a traditional holiday that is usually spent outside, in nature, in the company of relatives and friends. On Green Monday, all picnic areas are filled with people enjoying meatless dishes – vegetables, fruits, legumes, olives, meatless pastries and seafood
Traditional foods include olives, octopus, and shrimp. A special kind of unleavened bread called “lagana” is baked only on Clean Monday.
In addition to picnics, outdoor activities used to celebrate the day include flying kites, dancing, music, etc.
