Lazarus Saturday

Dead.
Dead and four days buried.

Russian icon. The Raising of Lazarus. 15th century, Novgorod school.

Sebastiano del Piombo, The Raising of Lazarus. Early 16th century.

Giuseppe Salviati, The Resurrection of Lazarus. 16th century.

Mosaic in Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo. The Resurrection of Lazarus.

Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Raising of Lazarus. 1310-11.

Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐκραύγασε· Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω. Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ τεθνηκὼς δεδεμένος τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κειρίαις, καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ σουδαρίῳ περιεδέδετο. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· λύσατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἄφετε ὑπάγειν. Πολλοὶ οὖν ἐκ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, οἱ ἐλθόντες πρὸς τὴν Μαρίαν καὶ θεασάμενοι ἃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτόν. (Ιωάννης ια', 43-45)

If you want to read more about Lazarus Saturday, click here.

Clean Monday

Today it's Clean Monday in Greece. It's the first day of Lent that leads up to Easter, and of course a movable feast.

Kyra Sarakosti, by Olympias

The term for this day, Clean Monday, refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods. The widespread Greek custom of flying a kite on Clean Monday symbolizes the beginning of Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love. It is common for children to make kites and fly them especially on this day -well, with a little help from mum and dad...

Metal kite embellishment, by fastrunningfox

Long sleeved onesie, by BHBKidstyle

This day is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus and people often have picnics. Eating meat, eggs and dairy products is traditionally forbidden to Christians throughout Lent, with fish being eaten only on major feast days, but shellfish is permitted, and so it is a custom to consume shrimps, calamari, taramasalata (a dip made with fish roe), clams and shells. We also make or buy the traditional lagana, which is a kind of bread (if you speak Greek you can read the recipe there too, but you can see the pictures of it anyway). Other delicacies include tahini halva, revythokeftedes (chick pea balls), tomatokeftedes (tomato balls) and dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice).

Frutti di Mare Pizza, by PetitPlat

Sushi pincushion ring, by swiedebie

Picnic bag, by oneperfectday

Vine leaves, by FoxInTheBox

Apple cozy, by woolicious

Picnic blanket, by SewnNatural