Kyria Sarakosti

Yesterday all the infants came home from school with a "Kyria Sarakosti" made of paper. What is this? Well it is a bit like an advent calendar for lent. Are you fasting - or have you given up something for Lent? You might like to make one! The children usually colour their own and often dried beans or lentils are stuck on for decoration  and pictures of the fasting foods drawn on her apron

"Her eyes and mouth are closed to remind us to fast.

She has no ears as she will not listen to gossip

The cross on her head reminds us to always have Our Saviour in our minds

Her hands are folded in prayer and she has seven feet,  one for each week of lent."

Each Saturday of lent,  we break off a foot to mark the weeks  until Easter.

Often the Kyria Sarakosti is made of bread ( or a salt dough can be used)

The last foot is often hidden in a dish of fruit and nuts and whoever finds it receives a special blessing. They would write their name and the year on the back and keep it as a keepsake.

On Holy Saturday  we break up her body and sprinkle on the grass for the birds so that all of God’s creation can rejoice together

A lovely tradition that continues in Crete and the rest of Greece

"She wears a simple nun’s dress, with a cross upon her head, Her hands in prayer without a mouth, to keep the fast with mostly bread.

Her feet teach us how to count, the weeks of Lent are seven, We cut one off each Saturday, until Pascha and the new heaven."

Today's recipe is Kalamares with Fennel

For the recipe go to www.apokoronasourhome.com