2. The three weeks of “Τriodio”
For the Orthodox church there is a three week period of preparation that
leads to the great 50day fasting period before Easter.
This three week period is called Triodio (“Τριώδιο”).
The 1st week is called Apoliti ( “Απολυτή”). During this week there are no
fasting days.
The 2nd week is called Apokreo/
“Απόκρεω”, During this week there
are 2 fasting days: Wednesday and
Friday. That is why Thursday-the in
between day- is a day of great
celebration! This
day
is
called
Tsiknopempti (“Τσικνοπέμπτη»).
3. Tsiknopempti
(“Τσικνοπέμπτη”)
Tsiknopempti (Τσικνοπέμπτη) is celebrated 11 days before
GreenMonday.
It ’s name is a synthesis of the word «τσίκνα», which
means the smell of cooked meat and «Πέμπτη» meaning
Thursday.
“ Fat Thursday ”, “Barbecue Thursday” or even “Smelly
Thursday “ would be appropriated names in English.
According to the custom, meat is being barbecued in
coal stews. Relatives and friends get together and
celebrate. There is drinking and eating, singing, dancing.
They also play traditional games!
4. When toasting, everybody wishes:
“ Health. May all of us be well until Easter
time!”
« Εις υγείαν τζαι καλόν Πάσκαν να φτάσουμεν!»
(Στην υγεία μας και καλό Πάσχα να φτάσουμε.)
8. “Tsiknopempti” at our school
This day is celebrated every year at cypriot schools.
At our school children are engaged in various activities!
They sing traditional songs!
16. Children also make traditional art products like
masks, sarakostes, kites.
17. Quiet Lady Sarakosti
Quiet Lady Sarakosti, is a custom from long ago,
Our grandmothers used to make her, out of flour and H2O.
She wears a simple nun’s dress, with a cross upon her head, her
hands in prayer without a mouth, to keep the fast with mostly bread.
Her feet teach us how to count, the weeks of Lent are seven, we cut
one off each Saturday, until Pascha (Easter) and the new heaven.
18. During the 3rd week, which is called Tirofagou (”Τυροφάγου”), meat
consumption is not allowed any more. People consume mostly dairy
products. The Tirofagou Sunday, is followed by the Green Monday/
Καθαρά Δευτέρα, when Easter fasting begins.
19. Green Monday
Clean Monday (Greek: Καθαρά Δευτέρα), also known as Pure Monday, Ash
Monday, Monday of Lent or Green Monday, is the first day of the Eastern Orthodox
Christian, It is a movable feast that occurs at the beginning of the 7th week before
Orthodox Easter Sunday.
The common term for this day, "Clean Monday", refers to the leaving behind of sinful
attitudes and non-fasting foods. It is sometimes called "Ash Monday," by analogy
with Ash Wednesday (the day when the Western Churches begin Lent).
Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, where it is celebrated with
outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting food, a special kind
of azyme bread, baked only on that day, named "lagana" (Greek: λαγάνα) and the
widespread custom of flying kites. Eating meat, eggs and dairy products is traditionally
forbidden to Orthodox Christians throughout Lent, with fish being eaten only on
major feast days, but shellfish is permitted in European denominations. This has created
the tradition of eating elaborate dishes based on seafood (shellfish, molluscs, fish roe
etc.). People on Clean Monday usually take their picnic baskets and put inside fasting
foods because it is the day that Lent begins.
