Clean Monday is celebrated today in Cyprus, marking the official beginning of Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox tradition. It is the first day of the forty‑day fasting period that prepares the faithful spiritually for Holy Week and the Resurrection. The day symbolises cleansing of the body and soul, a fresh start to the Lenten journey, and an invitation to repentance, simplicity and renewal as Orthodox Christians begin their path towards Easter. This is a day outdoors with picnics while traditional Lenten dishes take centre stage, while children and adults alike will be flying kites, known in the Cyprus dialect as petasi.
This year, however, outings to the countryside will take place in the rain, according to the Meteorological Service.
Isolated thunderstorms are also expected, mainly in the mountains, inland areas and possibly the south‑eastern coast. Temperatures will reach 17 degrees inland, around 18 degrees on the coast and 6 degrees in the higher mountains.
Municipalities and communities are organising various Clean Monday events that include dancing, singing and tsiattista, improvised poetic duels, performed in rhyme and usually accompanied by traditional music. Two or more performers exchange verses on the spot, each trying to outwit, tease or out‑rhyme the other.
Detailed weather forecast
A weak low‑pressure system is affecting the area.
This morning, the weather will be partly cloudy and isolated light showers cannot be ruled out. Later, local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected, mainly in the mountains, inland and possibly the south‑eastern coast. Snow or sleet may fall on the highest peaks of Troodos. Winds will initially be variable and light, force 3, later becoming mainly south‑westerly to north‑westerly, light to moderate, force 3 to 4. The sea will be slight to locally slight. Temperatures will rise to 17 degrees inland, around 18 degrees on the coast and 6 degrees in the higher mountains.
Tonight, periods of increased cloud cover are expected. Winds will be mainly north‑westerly, light to moderate, force 3 to 4, and the sea will remain slight to locally slight. Temperatures will drop to 6 degrees inland, around 9 degrees on the south and east coasts, around 10 degrees on the west and north coasts, and 1 degree in the higher mountains, where frost is expected locally.
On Tuesday, the weather will be partly cloudy with isolated showers possible. On Wednesday, it will again be partly cloudy with local showers expected. On Thursday, the weather will remain partly cloudy with isolated showers possible, mainly in the mountains and inland, while snow or sleet is expected on the highest peaks of Troodos.
Temperatures will rise slightly on Tuesday, then gradually fall on Wednesday and Thursday, returning close to average climatic values.
The snow depth at Mount Chionistra at the time of the bulletin was 1 centimetre.