Clean Monday
March 3, Monday
History and Meaning
Clean Monday has its roots in Christian tradition and is associated with the preparation for the Great Lent, a period of repentance and abstinence. The holiday also symbolizes the purification from sins and material attachments, as reflected in its name. On this day, believers are called to begin the fast with the purification of the spirit and the body.
Clean Monday in Different Countries: Names and Traditions
Greece – Καθαρά Δευτέρα (Kathará Deftéra)
– Official holiday.
– People go to nature and have picnics.
– They fly kites, which symbolize spiritual purification.
– They eat lagana (unleavened bread), olives, seafood, tahini, and halva.
– In some regions, there are carnivals and folk celebrations.
Cyprus – Καθαρά Δευτέρα (Kathará Deftéra)
– Very similar to Greek traditions.
– Families spend the day outdoors and prepare vegetarian meals.
– Kites are flown everywhere.
– In some villages, there are folkloric festivals.
Romania – Lunea Curată
– Celebrated in Orthodox regions but is not an official holiday.
– Traditionally, people eat vegetarian dishes, especially beans, vegetables, and bread.
– Some families perform purification rituals related to water.
Moldova – Lunea Curată
– In Orthodox families, this day begins with the strict observance of the fast.
– Traditional dishes include vegetables, legumes, bread, and honey.
– In some villages, popular traditions of forgiveness and purification are preserved.
Albania – E hëna e pastër
– In the southern regions (Gjirokastra, Korça), it is celebrated in the same way as in Greece.
– A vegetarian lunch with lagana and seafood is very popular.
Russia – Clean Monday
– The first day of the Great Lent.
– In the Orthodox tradition, it is a day of purification: believers confess, receive communion, and begin the strict fast.
– It is customary to clean the house and go to the bathhouse – a symbolic purification from the sins of the Carnival.
– In monasteries, a special fasting regimen begins.
Serbia – Čisti ponedeljak
– The start of the strict Great Lent.
– On this day, fasting dishes are prepared: beans, cabbage, corn bread.
– In some villages, a "purification" ritual is performed – washing with spring water.
Bulgaria – Chist ponedelnik
– Informally celebrated among Orthodox Christians.
– In some regions, there is a tradition of "driving away evil spirits" – by burning bonfires after the Carnival.
– It is customary to begin the strict fast with a fasting lunch (usually beans, vegetables, and bread).
Georgia – სუფთა ორშაბათი (Supta orshabati)
– In the Georgian Orthodox Church, this day is important as the beginning of the Great Lent.
– Families prepare fasting dishes, abstaining from meat, milk, and eggs.
– Believers attend liturgies and confess their sins.
Ukraine – Чистий понеділок or Жилавий понеділок
– This day is especially important for the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
– The strict fast begins, and fun and noisy celebrations are prohibited.
– It is customary to start the day with prayer and confession.
In all these countries, Clean Monday is not just a holiday but also an important spiritual day that symbolizes purification, humility, and preparation for Easter.
Clean Monday in other years
- 2022 March 7, Monday
- 2023 February 27, Monday
- 2024 March 18, Monday
- 2026 February 23, Monday
Clean Monday in other countries
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