Clean Monday 2023: Date, History, Facts about Greece

Clean Monday is observed annually in Greece on the sixth Monday preceding Palm Sunday, which falls on February 27 this year. Clean Monday (Greek: ) is a movable holiday with no fixed date of observance, as it is dependent on Lent. Specifically, Clean Monday is observed fifty days prior to Orthodox Easter and represents the beginning of Great Lent for Orthodox Christians. Pristine Monday is also known as “Ash Monday,” “Pure Monday,” “Orthodox Shrove Monday,” and “Monday of Lent” (particularly in Cyprus). In addition to its religious significance, Clean Monday is considered the first day of spring, and Greeks typically commemorate it with outdoor activities and picnics. It marks the end of the month-long Greek Carnival and signifies the beginning of Lent. On Clean Monday, Greek Orthodox celebrate by consuming special Lenten dishes (‘nistisima’ or ‘Sarakostiana’) composed of legumes, vegetables, cereals, and seafood.

HISTORY OF CLEAN MONDAY

Clean Monday is a widely celebrated annual holiday in Greece and Cyprus. Locally known as “Kathará Deftéra,” the name “Clean Monday” derives from the belief that Christians should approach the fasting season of Lent with clean spirits and pure intentions. Christians traditionally view the Lenten season as a time to clean their homes, reorganise their lives, and devote to a holier and more moral lifestyle. Clean Monday, like every other day of Lent, is a day of absolute fasting. Christians must refrain from eating from midnight to noon and are forbidden to consume any flesh. It stands in distinct contrast to the festive spirit and drinking traditions of the three weeks preceding Apokries, the Greek Carnival.

Clean Monday is a significant Greek bank holiday. Frequently, stores and enterprises remain closed. There are numerous customs and traditions associated with the national holiday among the Greeks. Greeks celebrate Clean Monday with fun, outdoor events, and excursions in the countryside, known as ‘koulouma’, because it is also considered to signal the beginning of spring. Additionally, they consume traditional cuisines such as olives, octopus, shellfish, and shrimp.

On Clean Monday, Greeks also bake ‘lagana,’ a special type of unleavened bread — similar to the’matzah’ consumed by Jews during Passover. In addition to picnics, this national holiday also features kite-flying, dancing, and music, among other outdoor activities. Young and old alike explore the picturesque countryside and fly colourful kites in the bright sky. Pristine Monday is also associated with a variety of regional and local customs and practises in various parts of the country.

Five FACTS ABOUT GREECE THAT WILL STUN YOU

Only about 227 of the approximately 6,000 gorgeous islands and islets in Greece are inhabited.

There are 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece, including the Temple of Apollo, the Acropolis of Athens, Mount Athos, Meteora, the Medieval City of Rhodes, and the Old Town of Corfu.

Greece is one of the sunniest countries in the world, with approximately 250 sunny days and up to 3,000 hours of annual sunlight.

The official name of Greece is the ‘Hellenic Republic’ or ‘Hellas,’ and Greeks are referred to as ‘Hellenes.’

The Athenian Democracy of ancient Greece, which permitted direct citizen voting on legislative and executive measures, dates back to the fifth century B.C.

CLEAN MONDAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2022	March 7	Monday
2023	February 27	Monday
2024	March 18	Monday
2025	March 3	Monday
2026	February 23	Monday