Clean Monday – also known as koulouma – is the first day of Lenten fasting until Easter begins. In years when the weather permits it, most people go out for a picnic that is comprised of special unleavened lagana bread taramosalata (a fish roe dip), dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), seafood salads, shellfish and sweet halvas.

The outdoor festival will be dampened this year, with showers around the country…

Usually, Clean Monday is characterized by a sky dotted with colorful kites as people traditionally fly kites on this day. It is unclear how this Asian custom made it’s way to koulouma. The symbolism could be due to Christ’s ascension, bearing in mind that Clean Monday is tied to Greek Orthodox Easter.

The celebration is the reincarnation of the Roman pagain ebruatio festival that involved ritual purifications aimed at averting evil spirits.