Feb 23 β€’ 10:09 UTC πŸ‡¬πŸ‡· Greece Naftemporiki

Clean Monday in Pontus: The Housewife's Duties and the Customs of the Day

Clean Monday in Pontus involved extensive cleaning and preparation for Lent by housewives, contrasting with modern celebrations.

In Pontus, Clean Monday marked a day of deep cleaning and preparation for Lent, vastly different from today's celebratory atmosphere. Traditionally, all housewives would engage in a thorough cleaning process to ready their homes for the fasting period that followed. This cleaning was not merely a surface effort but involved rigorous methods, reflecting the cultural importance of cleanliness in relation to the religious observance of Lent.

On Clean Monday itself, faithful individuals would attend church to receive communion and partake in the antidoron (blessed bread), symbolizing their readiness to enter the fasting period. These religious practices emphasized the spiritual significance of the day, reinforcing the community's connection to their faith while preparing for the solemn observance of Lent. The practices associated with this day exhibit a deep reverence for tradition and a commitment to uphold the customs passed down through generations.

Particularly unique to this observance in Pontus was the method known as 'Sachtoyraeter' or 'Sachtarodeftera,' where housewives boiled water with ash to cleanse their metal and wooden utensils thoroughly. This extensive cleaning process was aimed at ensuring that no remnants of animal products lingered in the household, preventing any contamination with the vegetarian foods that would be prepared during Lent. Such rituals highlight a profound respect for the dietary laws associated with the season, portraying a blend of devotion and practical responsibility that characterizes the cultural identity of Pontian Greeks during this period.

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