Clean Monday and Rose Monday

GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers participate in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

Bangkok (AFP) - The throwing of the flour in Galaxidi on the Clean Monday
holiday is an unique celebration in Greece, marking the end carnival season and the start of the 40-days lent until the Orthodox Easter.
GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers dance around a bonfire as they participate in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers dance around a bonfire as they participate in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

Known as Pure Monday, Ash Monday, Green Monday or Monday of Lent, Clean Monday is a movable feast happening on the first day of the Eastern Catholic Great Lent and Eastern Orthodox Christian, according to wikipedia website.
GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers dance and drink while participating in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Louisa Gouliamaki

GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers dance and drink while participating in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Louisa Gouliamaki

Referring to sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods left behind, the term "Clean Monday" relates to the practice of Ash imposition by Eastern Catholic churches. Its theme can be found in the Old Testament.
GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers dance and drink while participating in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Louisa Gouliamaki

People commonly clean their houses thoroughly and practise confession during this week. They normally celebrate this public holiday with a special kind of azyme bread "lagana" baked only on that day, excursions as well as shellfish and other fasting food, according to wikipedia website. It is celebrated in Greece and Cyprus.
GALAXIDI, -, GREECE : Revelers dance and drink while participating in the traditional flour-war during the Clean Monday (Ash Monday) celebrations in the coastal city of Galaxidi, some 230 km west of Athens on March 7, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Louisa Gouliamaki

In Germany, Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), the highlight of the German "Karneval" (carnival), is on the Shrove Monday before Ash Wednesday, according to wikipedia website.

Although it is not a national holiday, schools are closed on Rosenmontag. Both schools and companies tend to also offer pupils, teachers and employees Monday-Thurday off.

Carnival goers mainly in the Rhine region traditionally celebrate the highlight procession on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). The season ends with Ash
Wednesday on March 9, 2011.