{"id":14548,"date":"2026-02-16T18:37:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omilo.com\/kathara-deftera-clean-monday\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T11:20:49","slug":"kathara-deftera-clean-monday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omilo.com\/de\/kathara-deftera-clean-monday\/","title":{"rendered":"Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kathara Deftera, or Clean Monday,\u00a0 is an important day for Greeks.
\nWe celebrate the end of the Carnival and the beginning of fasting which leads to Easter (forty days later).
\nIn 2026, \u039a\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac \u0394\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1 will be on February 23rd.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Where this name comes from?<\/h2>\n

As the name indicates, people \u201cclean\u2019 their body and soul.
\nHaving spent 3 weeks consuming a lot of meat during carnival and „tsiknopempti“,<\/a>
\nnow they stop eating meat, dairy products (cheese, yogurt, milk), fish and eggs.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the table of the day offers a great variety of dishes.
\nSome of the most typical dishes are: \u201clagana\u201d (a type of bread only prepared for that day), halva, seafood (shrimps, squids etc),
\nfish roe salad (\u201ctaramosalata\u201d)<\/a>, vegetables etc. This is also supposed to be (more or less) the menu until Easter.
\nEven if not all Greeks fasten the 40 days to Easter, Kathara Deftera is a fasting day for everyone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"taramasalata\"<\/p>\n

Kathara Deftera is also a National Holiday.<\/h2>\n

\"KatharaIt is an opportunity for a family lunch or if the weather is good, it is a wonderful day for a trip to the countryside.
\nThere are several traditions related to this day. Each area has different customs.<\/p>\n

The flying of the kite is the most common tradition that you can find all over Greece. People of every age try to fly a kite. The highest kite is the winner! Athenians for example go to the hill of Filopappou, opposite the Acropolis. It is the best place to fly the kite.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Many cities and towns organize feasts offering local food to visitors, they also offer wine and of course music.
\nThe municipality of Athens treats wine and food and the band plays music to entertain the people who join the party!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Macedonia there are different traditions again, and many times dances.
\nTake a look at this video, recorded in a small town in Macedonia<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> on Kathara Devtera.<\/p>\n

If you happen to be in Greece that day, don\u2019t forget to wish:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cXronia polla<\/span>\u201d and \u201cKali Sarakosti<\/span>\u201d (enjoy the 40 fasting days until Easter)<\/p>\n

Curious why it is called „sarakosti“?\u00a0 Then click here and learn more<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Easy Greek Podcast Story no. 38 – Carnival – Greek Style (+ Clean Monday)<\/h3>\n

\"Greek<\/a> In this story you can read about Maya’s experience,
\ncelebrating carnival in a small village, Greek style, as well as Kathara Devtera<\/p>\n

Written for Intermediate learners, with pocast on soundcloud, spotify, apple podcast
\nIt also included a Podcast Notebook, with English Translation, vocab list, grammar exercises, and tons of information about Greek Carnival and Kathara Devtera
\nhttps:\/\/omilo.com\/easy-greek-stories-podcast-38-carnival\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>\n

In the mood to learn more about Greece and listen to the Audio, by native Greek teachers?<\/strong>
\nThen the Ultimate Greek Listening eBook is exactly what you are looking for \ud83d\ude42
\nListening and Reading comprehension, including English translations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n