The custom of the Lenten lady is one of the oldest customs associated with the celebration of Easter, but today more or less forgotten. It has always served as a calendar to count the weeks from Clean Monday to Holy Week, as the Lenten lady has 7 legs, one for each week of the Lenten period. This is a custom that is tending to disappear in our days, while in the past we encountered it throughout Greece with various variations and it was used as a calendar that counted the weeks of Great Lent.
The Lenten Lady, in most areas, was a paper drawing depicting a woman who looked like a nun, with 7 legs, crossed arms because she was praying, a cross because she went to church and no mouth because she was fasting. At the end of each week, starting from the Saturday after Clean Monday, one leg was cut off. The last one was cut off on Holy Saturday. This piece of paper was folded tightly and hidden in a dried fig or walnut (Chios region), which was placed with others. Whoever found it was considered lucky and good-natured. In some areas, the seventh leg was placed in the Easter bread and whoever found it brought him a good luck charm.
a poem by my daughter
Lady Lent,
soft dough made with flour and water,
an old custom.
He has no mouth, no voice,
because he is fasting a lot,
has a cross on his head,
and she wears her poor little dress.
It stands on seven legs,
Every week one cuts, runs,
until the glorious Resurrection comes
and let's all eat together!
Tsiatsiou Julietta Stefania
