Clean Monday is the first day of Great Lent in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It marks the beginning of a 40-day period of fasting and repentance leading up to Easter. The day is significant for its focus on spiritual cleansing, renewal, and preparation for the resurrection of Christ.

Table of Contents

1. When is Clean Monday?
2. The History of Clean Monday
3. What Do People Do on This Day?

When is Clean Monday?

Clean Monday occurs seven weeks before Easter Sunday and is the day after Forgiveness Sunday, which is the final day before Great Lent begins.

The following is the list of Clean Monday from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Clean Monday

The history of Clean Monday is rooted in the early Christian Church and reflects the practices and theology of Great Lent, the preparatory period before Easter. As the first day of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Clean Monday emphasizes spiritual and physical cleansing, setting the tone for a period of repentance and prayer.

The practice of a 40-day fast before Easter has its origins in the early Christian Church, modeled after Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert. Early Christians adopted fasting as a means of spiritual discipline and preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection.

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Lent begins on Clean Monday and spans 40 weekdays (excluding Saturdays and Sundays), leading up to Lazarus Saturday and Holy Week. Clean Monday evolved as the day to begin strict fasting and increased prayer, symbolizing a "clean break" from sin and indulgences.

By the 4th century, the Church formalized Lenten fasting rules, which are among the strictest in Orthodox Christianity. Clean Monday became the starting point for these rules, symbolizing the faithful's commitment to simplicity and spiritual discipline.

Clean Monday was incorporated into the Byzantine liturgical calendar as the official start of Lent in Byzantine Christianity. In Byzantine society, Clean Monday followed Forgiveness Sunday, when Christians were encouraged to reconcile with one another as a prerequisite for spiritual cleansing. Clean Monday spread throughout the Byzantine Empire influencing Orthodox Christian communities.

What Do People Do on This Day?

On Clean Monday, Orthodox Christians and communities celebrate the beginning of Great Lent with a mix of religious observances and festive activities. The day emphasizes spiritual cleansing, fasting, and preparation for Easter, while also incorporating joyful cultural traditions.

Many attend Divine Liturgy or special services for Clean Monday, which include hymns, prayers, and readings focusing on repentance and humility.

Clean Monday marks the start of the strict Lenten fast, during which believers abstain from meat, dairy, eggs, fish , and alcohol. The fast emphasizes simplicity, self-discipline, and spiritual renewal.

A beloved tradition, especially in Greece and Cyprus, where families and communities fly kites outdoors. Kite-flying symbolizes freedom, the lifting of the spirit, and renewal.

Families and friends gather for picnics or outdoor meals featuring Lenten-friendly foods. These meals are simple yet celebratory reflecting the joyful start of Lent.

Clean Monday is often celebrated as a public holiday in countries like Greece and Cyprus, with families and communities coming together for meals and activities. In rural areas, people may perform seasonal rituals tied to spring and renewal, such as planting seeds or blessing fields.