Clean Monday sets the beginning of the Lent as well as the end of “Apokries” (Halloween). It was named like that because Christians are supposed to “clean” themselves spiritually and physically.
Clean Monday is the beginning of the fasting period for the Christians, which lasts for 40 days. People use to eat “lagana” -a special kind of bread which is made on that day only-horseradish, halva, seafood, vegetables, olives etc
Throughout Greece, the Day of Clean Monday is celebrated with a variety of interesting customs. The most important of these are the kite flying and the so-called “Gaitanaki”, a custom brought to Greece by the refugees from Asia Minor.
