On March 18th, Cypriots celebrate Green Monday

In the Republic of Cyprus, March 18th is celebrated as Green Monday. This religious holiday is observed at the state level, 48 days before Easter Sunday.

Green Monday, also known as Clean Monday, marks the first day of Great Lent before Easter, traditionally preceded by Shrovetide.

On this day, Cypriots prepare for a mass excursion to the countryside, observing the customs of fasting and celebrating this significant Orthodox Christian day.

The holiday is accompanied by various folk festivities with dances and songs, as well as other traditions. One of them is flying a kite. It's worth noting that earlier, the country's authorities urged residents of the island to refrain from the traditional pastime near the airports of Larnaca and Paphos.

Municipalities and communities in all provinces will organize various events today with traditional local treats.

It should be noted that since Green Monday marks the first day of Great Lent, all foods that are required to be excluded according to this Christian tradition should be avoided. This primarily includes meat, dairy products, and eggs. Moreover, even oil should not be added to food on Clean Monday. On this day, people usually eat vegetables and seafood.

For more information on how Green (Clean) Monday is celebrated in Cyprus, as well as what you can and cannot eat during fasting, read on our website.