Hundreds of residents gathered in open spaces surrounding the city of Thessaloniki today to mark the start of Lent with the traditional flying of kites, turning wooded hills such as Seich Sou Forest, which overlooks the city, and other areas into festive meeting points for families and groups of friends.
Despite a near absence of wind that made take-off a challenge, children and adults alike persisted with the customary ritual, filling the skyline with colour. Traditional music and dance performances by local associations' dance groups, featuring Pontic dances, added to the atmosphere.
The Municipality of Thessaloniki set up a celebration near the city zoo, offering classic Lenten dishes to long queues of visitors, including warm bean soup, tarama, olives and pickles, accompanied by wine. Mayor Stelios Angeloudis attended the event, greeting residents and wishing them "a good Lent", while urging them to "raise the kites high and along with them the city".
Clean Monday marks the beginning of Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox calendar, 40 days of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. On the day, families head outdoors for picnics, fly kites as a symbol of spiritual uplift, and eat fasting foods that exclude meat and dairy. In cities like Thessaloniki, the tradition combines religious practices with a vibrant community spirit and seasonal celebrations.
