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| Kite Flying on Clean Monday |
It is celebrated by Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics the world over, and is a public holiday in both Greece and Cyprus. The “Clean” part refers to the forsaking of evil thoughts, words and deeds. The “Green” part refers to the substitution of fresh green vegetables for the forbidden meat, dairy and eggs.
If this is beginning to sound lugubrious, bear in mind that Clean Monday celebrations border on festive. Meat, dairy and eggs may be taboo - but octopus, squid, olives, azyme (holiday flatbread), and taramosalata (a special fish roe dip) aren’t. Things that need confessing might be out, but kite flying is definitely in. Spring is springing, and so are people’s footsteps. Although it’s a time of sacrifice and repentance, the words of the day are these: When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance… (Matthew 6:16)
Clean Monday (as well as Lent itself) begins with a Sunday-evening Forgiveness Vespers (in keeping with the Hebrew Bible tradition of beginning sacred days at sunset the evening before). During the special ceremonial part of this service, participants bow before one another and ask for mutual forgiveness.
The theme of cleanliness then lasts throughout the entire week. In fact, this period is often called Clean Week. In keeping with this theme, people go to Confession. They also tend to scrub their houses from top to bottom.
It is customary to read Isaiah 1:1-20 at the sixth hour (noon) on Clean Monday. The overriding theme of this passage is one of repentance from sinfulness. It ends on an urgent note: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoke it. (KJV)
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Monday
http://www.spetsesdirect.com/kathari_dheftera_clean_monday_on_7_march_2011
Copyright March 7, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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