Tsiknopempti: What and why Greeks celebrate today

Tradition has it that on this day everyone prepares and enjoys their favorite meat dishes and typically a cloud of smoke where it is being cooked or barbecued. This gives Tsiknopempti one of its other common names, “Smoke Thursday” or “Smoked Thursday”. It is also called “Barbecue Thursday” or “Grilled Thursday” by some. Tsiknopempti is also a popular day for going out to eat and enjoying as many different meats as possible. Be sure to reserve a table ahead of time as restaurants and traditional taverns are typically fully booked!

Meaning of Tsiknopempti
In Greek, Thursday is Pempti (Πέμπτη), meaning the fifth day of the week as Greeks count Sunday as the first day. The word tsikna (Τσίκνα) refers to the smell of cooked meat – however, “Smelly Thursday” has not caught on as a translation.

In English, Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” and so Tsiknopempti is sometimes also called “Fat Thursday” – which is logical as the cooking of all that meat results in vast quantities of fat dribbling down onto the coals.

Typical Tsiknopempti Menu
Meat is king, with the emphasis on grilled meats, though the occasional stew pot will be visible.

Some restaurants and virtually every traditional tavern will put on special menus for Tsiknopempti. By far, the most common item will be some variation of souvlaki – meat on a skewer. These are available almost everywhere – walk carefully to avoid banging into an unexpected grill mostly obscured by smoke, sharing the already narrow streets and walkways!