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lent

When Is Greek Orthodox Easter and Dates Leading Up to It

The period leading up to the Greek Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, the most important religious feast of the year, is called Sarakosti, signifying 40 days of Great Lent. It started on Monday 18 March when Greek Orthodox celebrate “Kathara Deftera,”...

Clean Monday in Greece: Everything You Need to Know

“Kathara Deftera,” Greek for Clean Monday, commences the 40-day period of the Great Lent for the Greek Orthodox Church, called “Sarakosti.”

Why Greeks Fly Kites on Clean Monday

Clean Monday — the beginning of Lent among Orthodox Christians — is the day Greeks fly kites (which are symbolic of the Resurrection).

Apokries: Greek Carnival Season Reaches Peak this Weekend

Carnival celebrations in Greece, or "Apokries," are some of the most beloved traditions in the country, and are reaching their climax this weekend. Celebrated before the period of Great Lent, or "Sarakosti," begins, Apokries allow revelers to partake in all...

Did the Ancient Greeks Celebrate Carnival?

As the vibrant parades of Carnival sweep across Greece, one question comes to many people's minds: Did the ancient Greeks celebrate Carnival? From the samba-infused streets of Patras to the mask-adorned revelers in Rethymno, Naoussa, and Xanthi, one can't help...

Apokries: Carnival Season in Full Swing in Greece

Carnival celebrations in Greece, or “Apokries,” started at the weekend and will culminate next weekend. Young and old carnival-goers flooded the streets all over the country after a long period during which the coronavirus pandemic limited events. The western city of...

The Akathist Hymn: A Lyric Poem of Unparalleled Beauty

The Akathist Hymn, which is chanted on the first five successive Fridays of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church, is dedicated to Virgin Mary.

Lagana, Halvas and Taramas, The Greek Delicacies of Clean Monday

Lagana, halvas, and taramas, known as “the Koulouma,” are the official foods of the first day of Lent in Greece, known as "Clean Monday."

Greece Celebrates Tsiknopempti Under Lockdown

Tsiknopempti is going to look a lot different this year due to Greece's strict anti-virus measures and national lockdown.

Greece Ready to Enjoy Clean Monday Delicacies, Despite Carnival Ban

As we all know, this year's festivities which would have been part of Carnival weekend and Clean Monday have been banned across Greece due to the COVID19 Coronavirus outbreak. However, faithful to centuries' old tradition, millions of Greeks are ready...