CLEAN MONDAY 2009
Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece which is a celebration of the dawning of Lent. In the Old Testament it is written :Wash yourselves and ye shall be clean; put away the wicked ways from your souls before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well. Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, consider the fatherless, and plead for the widow. Come then, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; and though they be red like crimson, I will make them white as wool (v. 16-18).
Clean Monday refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and none-fasting foods. Traditional foods this day include octopus, olives, and shrimp.
It is time of celebration of the dawning of the spring and the cleaning of the body and soul, form this day many Greeks who are of the Orthodox faith will fast for 40 day's clean their houses and in the process clean their souls from evilness. Clean Monday is celebrated with eating and drinking and may include traditional music and dancing and also traditionally the flying of kites.
Clean Monday refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and none-fasting foods. Traditional foods this day include octopus, olives, and shrimp.
It is time of celebration of the dawning of the spring and the cleaning of the body and soul, form this day many Greeks who are of the Orthodox faith will fast for 40 day's clean their houses and in the process clean their souls from evilness. Clean Monday is celebrated with eating and drinking and may include traditional music and dancing and also traditionally the flying of kites.
"Let's go fly a kite up to the highest hight....."
Greeks and Brits together
Greeks and Brits together
The air was heavy with the aroma of food cooking
One of the traditional fasting foods, octopus
Many people drive over the causeway and setup their barbeques in the many fields that are around this area. The aroma of the food and the music playing is a great way to celebrate the dawning of the spring whatever your religious beliefs. When we arrived many kites filled the blue sky with children running and playing this felt like a true holiday.
The weather was fantastic, it was hard to believe that only 2 day's before we had snow, hail, and gale force winds blowing, Clean Monday was a true warm spring day. Problem was that as the day went on the wind dropped and so the kites flew no more. The enthusiasm of the children did not waver though, still they ran dragging their kite's along the ground hoping for a small breeze to lift them high into the sky.
Me and the rest of the gang sitting and enjoying the holiday
Beautiful views down to the Elounda waters
Beautiful views down to the Elounda waters
THE DAY
THE WEATHER
MORE ABOUT THE FASTING
Greek Orthodox Lent is a time of fasting and cleaning of body and spirit in preparation for accepting the Resurrection at Easter, which is the most sacred of all traditions in the Greek Orthodox Church. During this time Greeks will traditionally eat only food that has not come from red blooded animals, which also includes milk, eggs and cheese. Only animals from the sea without a backbone can be eaten, example octopus, shrimps and shellfish. Olive oil and wine is also restricted at this time of fasting, the number of meals is also restricted. All though this time is a serious date in the Orthodox calendar and in most Greeks calendars it is by no means law this fasting has to be done by faith alone.