{"id":1334,"date":"2014-03-03T05:53:17","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T05:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/greek\/?p=1334"},"modified":"2014-03-03T05:53:17","modified_gmt":"2014-03-03T05:53:17","slug":"let-the-kites-fly-its-clean-monday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/greek\/let-the-kites-fly-its-clean-monday\/","title":{"rendered":"Let the kites fly, it’s Clean Monday!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"RobW_@flickr\"<\/a>

RobW_@flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

Clean Monday (\u039a\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac \u0394\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1<\/strong>, Kathara Deftera<\/em>) is the first day of the Lent that lasts until Easter. It is called \u201cclean\u201d (\u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac<\/strong>, kathara<\/em>) because the Christian believers purify themselves spiritually and physically by eliminating the consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products and by abstaining from sin.<\/p>\n

Customs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each region has its own customs but generally Clean Monday is celebrated outdoors. This celebration is called \u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1<\/strong> (koulouma<\/em>). People fly kites and have picnics. They eat special dishes such as seafood (\u03b8\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03c3\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd\u03ac<\/strong>, thalassina<\/em>), legumes (\u03cc\u03c3\u03c0\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1<\/strong>, ospria<\/em>) especially giant beans (\u03c6\u03b1\u03c3\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b3\u03af\u03b3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2<\/strong>, fasolia gigantes<\/em>), fish roe dip (\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c3\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u03c4\u03b1<\/strong>, taramosalata<\/em>), vegetables (\u03bb\u03b1\u03c7\u03b1\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac<\/strong>, lahanika<\/em>) and an azyme bread called \u03bb\u03b1\u03b3\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1<\/strong> (lagana<\/em>). As a sweet dessert, they eat a type of halva <\/a>(\u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u03b2\u03ac\u03c2<\/strong>).
\nIn Athens the celebrations take place at the Philopappou Hill (\u039b\u03cc\u03c6\u03bf\u03c2 \u03a6\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03c0\u03ac\u03c0\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5<\/strong>, lofos filopapou<\/em>). In 1990, the celebration is held under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens and many events, such as traditional Greek dances, are organized. Greek politicians, especially mayoral candidates, visit the hill and spend time with the citizens.<\/p>\n

\"by<\/a>

by topsyntages.gr@flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Words and expressions<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • \u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03ae \u03a3\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae<\/strong> (kali sarakosti<\/em>): Happy Lent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    “\u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03ae \u03a3\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae!” (kali sarakosti<\/em>) Happy Lent!<\/p>\n

    “\u0395\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2!”\u00a0 (episis<\/em>) Same to you!<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac \u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \u039f \u0394\u03ae\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2 \u0391\u03b8\u03b7\u03bd\u03b1\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03cd\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac \u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1.
      \n(O dimos Athineon sas efhetai kala koulouma<\/em>)
      \nThe Municipality of Athens wishes you kala koulouma.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \u039d\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03c3\u03b9\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2-\u03b7-\u03bf<\/strong> (nistisimos<\/em>): fasting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u03a4\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b1\u03c3\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf\u03b9 \u03c6\u03b1\u03ba\u03ad\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03c3\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b1\u03b3\u03b7\u03c4\u03ac. (Ta fasolia ke oi fakes ine nistisima fagita<\/em>)
        \nBeans and lentils are fasting foods.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \u039d\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/strong> (nistevo): to fast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \u0397 \u039c\u03b1\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae. (I Maria nistevei ti sarakosti<\/em>)
          \nMaria\u00a0 fasts during Lent.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \u03a7\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b5\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2<\/strong> (\u03bf) (hartaetos<\/em>): kite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            \u0391\u03bd \u03b2\u03c1\u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b8\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c4\u03ac\u03be\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03b5 \u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b5\u03c4\u03cc. (An vrehei de tha petaxoume hartaeto<\/em>)
            \nIf it rains we won\u2019t fly a kite.<\/p>\n

            If you are a\u00a0 giant beans lover, you may find a recipe here: