Did you know that we stop fasting on Lent, on March 25, the day of the double feast, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and the anniversary of the National Holiday and we eat cod garlic?

Sarakosti (Lent) is the oldest and strictest period of fasting for the Orthodox Church. During the period of Lent, fasting is catalyzed, three times, giving the faithful an opportunity for empowerment. The first of these exceptions is on the day of the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin, as has been established on March 25th.

It is a joyous celebration during the period of Lent mourning and because it is a feast of the Mother of God, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and therefore very important, fish, oil and wine are catalyzed.

As for the second day of differentiation of fasting, this is Palm Sunday, which is a Despotic feast, dedicated to the earthly life of Jesus, when the faithful again consume fish, oil and wine.

The catalysis of the oil takes place on Holy Thursday, in memory of the delivery of the sacrament of Holy Communion by Jesus Christ. In fact, on Holy Thursday, the Divine Liturgy of the Great Kingdom is celebrated, which is performed only 10 times a year.

The custom of cod

A traditional dish of the day of the Annunciation, which is now of double importance for Hellenism, as it coincides from 1838 with the celebration of the Revolution of 1821, is the cod and in fact the accompaniment of the famous garlic.

The explanation for this tasty habit is quite simple and has to do mainly with the inability of the inhabitants of the hinterland to procure fresh fish directly and economically.

Although cod is not a “Greek” fish, as it is found mainly on the shores of the northeastern Atlantic, the fact that it becomes salty makes it a cheap and easy food to maintain.

recipes:

• Greek traditional fried cod with skordalia
• Greek traditional mashed potato with garlic sense (skordalia)
• How to desalt cod