Clean Monday

Clean Monday is observed fifty days before Orthodox Easter, and it marks the beginning of the Great Lent period for Orthodox believers. Clean Monday is also called ‘Ash Monday,’ ‘Pure Monday,’ ‘Orthodox Shrove Monday,’ ‘Monday of Lent,’ or ‘Green Monday’ (particularly in Cyprus). Other than its religious significance, Clean Monday is also regarded as the first day of spring, and Greeks tend to celebrate it with ‘koulouma’ — which are outdoor activities and picnics. It concludes the month-long Greek Carnival and symbolizes the transition from feasting to fasting. Greek Orthodox celebrate Clean Monday by eating special Lent dishes (‘nistisima’ or ‘Sarakostiana’) based on legumes, vegetables, grains, and seafood.

You may also like the following events from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church:

• This Saturday, 14th February, 07:00 pm, AHEPA Apokries Dance in Wilmington
• This Sunday, 15th February, 11:00 am, GOYA Rise Against Hunger Fundraiser in Wilmington
• Next Sunday, 22nd February, 11:00 am, Spring General Assembly in Wilmington