Clean Monday

Clean Monday, also known as Pure Monday, Green Monday, or Monday of Lent, marks the first day of Great Lent in Eastern Christianity. It is a moveable feast, occurring on the sixth Monday before Palm Sunday, which starts Holy Week right before Easter.

The name "Clean Monday" comes from the idea of cleaning or purifying the body in preparation for Great Lent. On this day, many people begin a period of fasting and abstaining from certain foods. For some, this means not eating at all until they attend church services later in the week.

Although called "Clean Monday," it is different from Ash Wednesday in Western Christianity, where people often place ashes on their heads. Only a few Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Maronite, Chaldean, and Syro-Malabar Churches, use ashes on this day. For most, it is a time for spiritual reflection and preparation.

Date

Clean Monday is part of the paschal cycle, which means its date changes each year and depends on the date of Easter. The exact date can vary because different churches use different calendars, such as the Julian calendar used by Eastern Orthodox churches or the Gregorian calendar used by Eastern Catholics. When Easter falls on the same date in these calendars, Clean Monday is two days before Ash Wednesday, also known in the West as Shrove Monday. Otherwise, it may fall in a different week entirely.

Liturgical aspects

Clean Monday marks the beginning of Great Lent in Eastern Christianity. It starts on the previous Sunday night with a special service called Forgiveness Vespers. This service ends with a Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness, where people bow before each other and ask for forgiveness, helping everyone begin Lent with a clean conscience and renewed love.

During this week, known as Clean Week, people often go to Confession and thoroughly clean their homes. The theme of Clean Monday is inspired by an Old Testament reading, which encourages people to turn away from wrongdoings and seek justice. This day also symbolizes the start of spring, blending the joyful spirit of the season with the reflective mood of Lent. The Orthodox Church teaches that even while fasting, one should maintain a cheerful heart, as reminded by the Gospel lesson read on this day.

Observances

Eating meat, eggs, and dairy products is not allowed for Orthodox Christians during Lent, which starts with Clean Monday. Fish is only eaten on special feast days, but shellfish is allowed in many European traditions. This has led to many delicious dishes made from seafood like shellfish and fish roe.

Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus. People often go outside, eat shellfish and other special fasting foods, and enjoy a special type of bread called "lagana". Many also fly kites as a way to symbolize reaching something divine.