Cyprus Celebrates Green Monday Today

On March 3, Cyprus celebrates Green Monday, also known as Clean Monday. This holiday, which marks the beginning of Lent, is an official public holiday on the island.

In Orthodox tradition, Clean Monday is the first day after the carnival celebrations, following Forgiveness Sunday. It is also regarded as the first day of Fedorova Week and the start of Great Lent.

The day traditionally begins with a thorough spring-cleaning. Families and friends then head out for picnics, where they grill seafood and vegetables. As the first day of Lent, the consumption of meat, dairy products, and eggs is avoided.

A highlight of the day is the tradition of flying kites, which are believed to carry away the sins accumulated over the past year. On this day, the sky may be filled with countless colorful kites.

It was also previously reported that, for the first time, the celebration marking the start of Lent will take place in the municipality of Kourion, near Limassol.

The Department of Forests of the Republic of Cyprus has also issued a reminder for tourists on what is and isn’t allowed on Clean Monday. Visitors are urged not to litter, pick flowers, light fires, or sit under the pine trees.