|
|
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 12-02-27
CONTENTS
[01] Shrove Monday ushers in Lent
[01] Shrove Monday ushers in Lent
AMNA--The beginning of Lent commenced in Greece on Monday, as the day
is marked by the religious holiday of Shrove Monday or "Clean Monday",
ahead of Orthodox Christian Easter on April 15 this year. Traditionally
the advent of Lent in the east Mediterranean nation is accompanied
by an extended family dinner of seafood, flattened bread ("Lagana"),
olives, pickled produce and other non-dairy and non-meat items -- in
keeping with the 40-day fast followed by the faithful ahead of Easter,
known in the Greek Orthodox faith as the "Great Lent".
Additionally, the Shrove Monday custom calls for the flying of kites
by young and old throughout the country. In Athens, the best-known spot
for kite-flying is on the Filopappou Hill, to the south of the Acropolis.
Different customs and rituals, however, are celebrated in Greece and
Cyprus, depending on the region.
|
