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Clean Monday

Name: Clean Monday
Start: 2025-03-03T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-03-03
Location: Greece

Clean Monday is held on March 3. Also known as Pure Monday, Ash Monday, Monday of Lent or Green Monday, is the first day of Great Lent throughout Eastern Christianity. This event in the first decade of the month March is annual.

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“Kathara Deftera,” Greek for “Clean Monday,” is considered one of the most important annual feasts in Greece and Cyprus (an official public holiday), commencing the 40-day period of Great Lent. Clean Monday , also known as Pure Monday, Ash Monday, Monday of Lent or Green Monday, is the first day of Great Lent throughout Eastern Christianity.

It is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting food, a special kind of azyme bread, baked only on that day, named "lagana" and the widespread custom of flying kites.

Similar holidays and events, festivals and interesting facts

Ohi Day on October 28 (Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities);

Cyprus National Day on April 1;

National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey and Northern Cyprus on April 23;

Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day on May 19 (Turkey, Northern Cyprus);

European Siblings' Day on May 31;

World Compliment Day on March 1 (appeared after many successful editions of “National Compliment Day” in the Netherlands);

World Civil Defence Day on March 1;

World Seagrass Day on March 1;

World Butt Day on March 3 (The idea for the holiday belongs to Kara Kitty Blair, Rae Woodbuns, Melissa Benzinger in 2012);

World Hearing Day on March 3 (is held each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world);