site.btaGreece Marks Clean Monday With Kites and Lenten Dishes

Greece marked the Orthodox Clean Monday, which signals the start of Great Lent, with traditional outdoor celebrations, public broadcaster ERT reported.

Since it is a public holiday, people gathered in parks, coastal areas and other outdoor spaces, where families and friends flew colourful kites - a custom symbolizing spiritual cleansing and the beginning of the 40-day Easter fast, ERT said.

Local authorities in many regions organized festivities featuring music, dancing and sharing of traditional Lenten foods and wine. Typical dishes served on Clean Monday include lagana (unleavened bread), fasolada (bean soup), halva, olives and seafood.

In Athens, celebrations traditionally take place on Filopappou Hill, where residents and visitors fly kites to mark the occasion.