Green Monday in Cyprus
Description:
This is Green Monday. Getting up early, the women do the general cleaning. Since Cyprus houses are always clean, it takes very little time. After cleaning, the whole family, and sometimes close friends, go on a picnic. And in a variety of dishes, such a lean picnic will not yield to any festive table!
The time of Lent usually coincides with the ripening of fruits and vegetables in Cyprus, especially oranges, tangerines and lemons. The fasting table includes not only bean dishes, which Cypriots, by the way, love to eat not only in the fast, but also many bakery products.
I note that the Cypriots treat bread with trepidation and respect. Children will never even think of throwing a piece of bread on the floor, let alone throw them with friends and play with them. And if they dare to do so, they will receive a severe punishment from the adult family member. For Christ broke the loaf of bread at the Last Supper, telling the disciples that it was His Body. Therefore, one should not be rude to bread and everything that is made of flour. Scientists have conducted studies and proved that a person will never die of hunger, if within a month he eats at least a piece of bread and drinks it with water.
The most beloved Lenten bread by the Cypriots is bread mixed with olive oil. The most popular lean pies are “kolokopita” (with a filling of raisins, red pumpkin and ground wheat), “spanokopita” (with a filling of spinach) and “tahinopita” (cakes with sweet tahine filling).
Cozy and clean houses for the period of Lent remain as cozy and clean, but each hostess chooses its own way, as before the Great holiday, the interior decoration of the house is made simpler.
Until Easter, for 50 days, Cypriot believers refrain from eating fast food and from attending entertainment events. Some Cypriots struggle even more rigorously to fast and pray.