CLEAN MONDAY - KATHARA THEFTERA

             CLEAN MONDAY - "KATHARA THEFTERA"

       Clean Monday, the first day of the Greek Orthodox Great Lent, is a day of celebration. In villages around Greece, tables are set and stocked with the traditional foods of the day to welcome visiting friends and family. Greeks gather - as families, friends, or entire communities - to enjoy a day of picnics at the beach or the countryside with traditional foods, music, kite-flying and dancing. Kite-flying is a traditional part of this day. Then they join for a feast enjoying the allowed foods and special Lenten dishes.

      The whole weekend preceding "Clean Monday" offers vigorous parties, parades, and traditional events due to the "Apokries-Carnival".

WINTER VACATION IN GREECE?!

                     

WINTER VACATION IN GREECE?!

(Arachova)

   Greece is universally considered ideal for summer vacations with its sandy beaches, crystal clear seas and wonderful sunny days BUT it can also be an exciting winter destination!

(Mt. Parnassos)

    Who would have ever imagined that skiing or snowboarding or even snowmobiling in Greece is quite common activity during winter season!

VERY CREATIVE MOTHER

                           

VERY CREATIVE MOTHER

It is fascinating what one's creativity and imagination can do. Here's what a mother did at home to make some extra money! Some may disagree with the idea but still one cannot deny that the photos are fantastic!!!

The mother of this little girl is a computer scientist from Helsinki, Finland. While her daughter is sleeping, she creates a completely different world with any item she can find available! Both mother and daughter have become famous! It is truly the work of great imagination and creativity!

TSEKNOPEMPTE (SMOKED THURSDAY)

             

TSEKNOPEMPTE
 

     Today is Thursday, in Greece it's Tseknopempte, Smoked Thursday or as they call it elsewhere Fat Thursday -- (Germany: Fetter Donnerstag, Italy: Giovedì Grasso, Poland: Tłusty czwartek, Spain: Jueves lardero. It is similar to, (but should not to be confused with), the French festival of Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday" which is also celebrated in New Orleans, USA).

     Tseknopémptẽ is a feast associated with the celebration of Carnival (Apokries) when Greeks enjoy meat dinners at taverns, their homes or friends' homes just ten days before the beginning of the Great Lent (40day fasting) which begins on Clean Monday. Because Lent is a time of fasting, the next opportunity to feast will not be until Easter!

"DON'T CRY FOR ME, GREECE"

                 

     I need to say that a lot of my friends ask me how come I don't comment on what's happening in Greece. I call myself the Greek housewife but I don't write anything about current events in Greece. I talk about all kinds of other stuff, daily life, celebrations etc. just as if nothing happens in my life apart from the doilies and explaining the celebrations, writing about the carnival, giving ideas for romantic valentine's day, etc. Just as if I'm in a bliss of happiness!

     Well, let me tell you: I'm far from it but I'm not going to whine about it.

LOVE SONGS

"...LOVE IS IN THE AIR..."

Here's a compilation of some of my favorite love songs. I hope it can help you to set the mood for your Valentine's Day celebration !!!

-- I Will Always Love You -Whitney Houston ( The Bodyguard)

-- At Last - Etta James

-- Unforgettable - Nat King Cole (duet with Natalie Cole)

-- When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge

-- Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers


-- Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley