What is Clean (Green) Monday?
Clean Monday (also known as Green Monday or Ash Monday), is the first day of lent for the Greek Orthodox Calendar. It marks a period of fast which lasts 40 days till Easter. This is a time when people leave behind sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods and begin the holy season with "clean hearts and good intentions.".
During this period eating foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products is traditionally forbidden, with fish being eaten only on major feast days.
Clean Monday is a public holiday in Cyprus and is celebrated outdoors usually with a Cyprus BBQ in fields, parks or on beaches. Traditional foods are eaten including olives, seafood, octopus, and shrimp. Try our great recipe for Chilli and Lime prawn Skewers
Tradition dictates that Cypriots fly kites on Clean Monday as Lent begins. The higher the kite flies to better as it carries the human spirit up and bringing it closer to God. 
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