Green Monday Celeberations in Cyprus

The day after the Big carnival parade is the Green Monday, the first day of lent. The Cypriots are deeply religious and young or old, most fast during the forty day period. They go vegetarian for the duration. Green Monday is the first day of fasting. The many picnic sites are full of people eating, drinking, enjoying with friends and family and flying kites. Yes that is the tradition; the sky is full of colourful kites of all sizes. We never miss Green Monday invitations from Cypriot friends. They are really fun days out in the open countryside and weather at this time of the year is just beautiful. And the table is laden with variety of salads, pickles, olives, breads and delightful traditional vegetarian and sea food preparations. All washed down with the famous Cypriot wines. For the less fortunate ones who do not have friends, most taverns do a similar spread.