Usually St. George's day falls near Easter, but if this date falls before Easter, St. George's holiday is moved.

Undeterred by grey skies and the threat of rain, Greeks turned out for the traditional kite-flying and the outdoor picnics that usher in the start of Lent on Clean Monday, the first day of Lent in the Orthodox calender. Many areas celebrated with outdoor parties serving Lenten bean soup (fasolada), seafood, halva and the flat, unleavened "lagana" bread.