Kyra Sarakosti – Mrs. Lent – a Greek Easter Tradition

 

 

Kyra Sarakosti, Mrs. Lent or Lady Lent

 

 Kyra Sarakosti, Mrs. Lent or Lady Lent, is a charming, old Greek custom, connected to Lent, the seven week, (forty days) period of fasting before Easter, which, in Greek is called Sarakosti.

 

 

Kyra Sarakosti, a jolly little figure, can be made from various things, paper, clay, Fabric filled with feathers, or, the most commonly seen, baked from bread or cookie dough.

 

 

The most obvious characteristic of this sweet lady, are her seven legs, which are used as a type of calendar, which helps keep track of the countdown to Easter, or, seeing as meat is a no go, during Greek fasting, how many more weeks are there to endure before we can sink our teeth into that juicy Easter lamb.

Each of the seven legs represents one week of Lent and beginning on Kathara Deutera, Clean Monday (I’ll explain that to you in just a sec), until Easter, every Saturday, one of the poor soul’s legs is cut off.

 

 

In some regions of Greece, the tradition is to hide the seventh leg, the last, inside the Resurrection, or Easter bread, the lucky one who finds this last leg belonging to Kyra Sarakosti, is considered blessed.

In other regions of Greece, the seventh leg may be secreted away inside fruit, such as figs, or hidden in fruit trees, or fruit bowls.

Kyra Sarakosti, a pious lady, has no mouth, which is not only a great help to her during this season of abstinence, but also makes idle talk or gossip practically an impossibility.

Her arms are permanently folded in prayer, and the cross on her forehead is a constant reminder of her faith.

 

 

Lastly, Kyra Sarakosti, is missing her ears, or, if she is lucky enough to still be in possession of them, they are covered by a headscarf, all the better to block out evil, unkind and nasty talk.

In the run up to Greek Easter, you are sure to see Kyra Sarakosti, hanging around, dangling her legs, on the walls of many Greek houses.

 

Kathara Deutera and Sarakosti – Clean Monday and Lent

 

 Sarakosti, the  forty day fast, or Lent, in the Greek Orthodox Church, begins on Kathara Deutera, Clean Monday, the day after the last day of Apokreas (meaning no meat), the Greek Carnival.

Kathera Deuftera, or, Clean Monday, a public holiday in Greece, is the first of the forty days of Lent, a time for leaving behind sinful habits and non – fasting food.

 

 

Clean Monday is also the beginning of spring, and is traditionally spent outdoors; families eat out, or take picnics to the countryside and fly kites, the “Koulouma”.

The flying of kites on Clean Monday is said to be a way of communicating with God, an effort to reach God spiritually, some say it symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ.

The most popular place to fly your kite in Greece is on Philopappou Hill, near the Acropolis, in Athens.

 

 

As it seems the Greeks did everything first, I was not surprised to hear that they invented the first kite, ancient Greek mathematician and engineer, Archytas, rigged one up to help with his studies of aerodynamics in around 400 BC.

Clean Monday, so called, as to make a clean start, means eating the traditional Clean Monday fare; shellfish, octopus, beans, “Taramosalata”( Fish-roe dip), dolmades (rice filled vine leaves), unleavened bread; “Lagana”, and “Halva” (Semolina pudding), all washed down with plenty of wine or tsipouro.

Fasting continues until Easter Sunday, until then, no meat, no poultry, no fish, no dairy, no oil.

 

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