Nicosia, Cyprus. Cypriots headed to the countryside on Monday to celebrate Green Monday, the public holiday marking the start of Lent. Families and friends gathered across the island to share fasting foods, fly kites and take part in traditional activities.
Public holiday traditions
Families and friends met in parks, fields and along the coast to share Lenten foods, fly kites and participate in traditional games. Municipalities and communities organised events featuring fasting dishes, music and dance.
Warnings near airports
Kite-flying dominated the skyline, with authorities warning the public against flying kites or drones near Larnaca and Paphos airports due to risks to flight safety.
Oroklini event cancelled
In Oroklini in the Larnaca district, a planned Green Monday event was cancelled due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock in the area. The Oroklini borough said the decision followed government measures because of the area’s proximity to livestock units where cases had been identified, adding that protecting public health and complying with instructions were priorities.
Green Monday and Great Lent
Green Monday marks the first day of Great Lent, the 40-day fasting period leading up to Easter.
“Kyra Sarakosti” dough calendar
Researcher Anna Tselepou said many housewives, particularly in the Paphos district, prepare a special dough calendar known as “Kyra Sarakosti” (Lady Lent) to count the seven weeks from Green Monday to Easter Sunday. Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Tselepou said the figurine is shaped from dough into a human form and is linked to the period of Great Lent, adding that housewives demonstrate their dough-making skills by creating human figures.
Have you taken part in any Green Monday traditions this year?
