Clean Monday - Καθαρά Δευτέρα (Kathera Dheftéra)
Clean Monday follows immediately after the Carnival Sunday (Apokries) and therefore the date changes each year, depending on when Greek Orthodox Pascha (Easter) falls. This is the first day of Lent and the start of the fasting period, when traditional Lenten food is especially prepared and eaten even by those who don't observe the rest of Lent.
Many Greeks observe the period of Lent before Pascha even if they don't necessarily practice the other periods of abstinence during the rest of the year. Strictly speaking, during the seven weeks of Lent no meat or fish (that is, fish with backbones) should be eaten. Also no animal products such as milk, cheese, butter and eggs. Oil and wine should be omitted too, except on a Saturday and Sunday.
Even those who do not observe Lent will eat only Lenten food that is prepared especially for Clean Monday. 'Lagana', is a type of flat bread traditionally served on this day along with cuttlefish and kalamari (squid), taramasolata (fish roe), ‘horta’ (wild greens) and Scorda (garlic paste).
On Hydra, everyone meets up at favourite tavernas for lunch followed by a walk in the countryside for some traditional kite flying. The cliffs above Vlychos are one of the places where you can get the best views of the sky filled with kites which sadly number more commercially bought ones these days rather than the magnificent home-made hexagonal kites that families used to make together.
What else will be on the menu
Lenten food served at restaurants, tavernas and homes on Hydra Island Greece on Clean Monday will include:
- Cuttlefish with Spinach (Soupies & Spanaki)
- Greek Stuffed Squid (Kalamarakia Gemista)
- Greek Calamari (Kalamari) - Fried Squid
- Greek Butterbeans Plaki (Gigantes)
- Taramosalata
- Greek Pickles (Toursi)
