Clean Monday (A Fresh Start Under the Open Sky)

Clean Monday is more than a tradition. It’s a reminder that renewal begins not with grand gestures, but with small acts of letting go. Just as the wind carries a kite higher when we release the string, we, too, find freedom when we loosen our grip on what weighs us down. Purity is not just in the food we eat today, but in the thoughts we choose to keep.

How can kite flying be combined with the outdoors, spring food, and carnival? And yet, it all comes together on Clean Monday in Greece. Join us on a wonderful journey of flavors and traditions by reading below.

 << See how high the kite flies. It has reached the sky>>. You can hear the children shouting.

The fathers, mostly the ones in charge of flying the kite, compete with one another, eager to see who can fly it the highest. It is a spectacle of colors, laughter, and joy, woven together with the melodies of Greek music playing in the background. The atmosphere is a mix of the last whispers of winter and the first breath of spring. The air is crisp, the earth softening beneath footsteps, as nature awakens and welcomes people back.

                 

Clean Monday, known as "Kathara Deftera" in Greek, marks the beginning of Great Lent in the Orthodox Christian tradition. It is a day of spiritual and physical cleansing, symbolizing a fresh start both for nature and for the human soul. It leads the faithful toward Easter, guiding them through a period of reflection, simplicity, and renewal. But beyond its religious significance, it is also a celebration of family, community, and the deep-rooted connection between people and nature.

The food of the day reflects this purity—simple, plant-based, and rich in flavors that have been passed down through generations. The table is adorned with "lagana," the traditional unleavened bread, alongside olives, taramosalata, halva, and an array of fresh vegetables. The meal is light yet deeply fulfilling, a reminder that joy can be found in the simplest of things.

Meanwhile, the remnants of carnival linger in the air. Though Clean Monday officially ends the festive season, it does not erase its spirit. The playful energy of Apokries, the Greek Carnival, still echoes in the laughter of children running with their kites, in the colorful costumes some may still wear, and in the liveliness of the gatherings.

It is a day that unites past and future, tradition and change, spirituality and celebration. It is the moment when people begin to reconnect with the earth, listening to its silent invitation to embrace the coming season of rebirth.

"As the sun sets and the kites begin to descend, there is a sense of peace, one that lingers beyond the day itself. Clean Monday is not just about food, or kites, or traditions. It is about pausing, taking a breath, and allowing the soul to feel light once more".

The photographs of the village, captured with an artistic touch, perfectly reflect the essence of the day. Despite the cloudy weather, the shift from winter to spring was undeniable, as the first blossoms emerged, hinting at the season’s renewal. Enjoy them below.

Clean Monday is more than a day of tradition. It's a reminder that renewal begins both in nature and within us.