LADY LENT (kyra Sarakosti)
A very old Greek custom of the Easter Lent period is that of Kyra -Sarakosti, (Lady Lent)
It is a peculiar calendar that is used to count the weeks of fasting (Lent).
Lady Lent in most regions is a paper drawing. It depicts a woman with her arms crossed in prayer, like a nun, without a mouth, due to fasting, and with seven legs representing the seven weeks of Lent.
Every Saturday a leg is cut off, so we know how many weeks of fasting were left until Easter. On Holy Saturday, the last leg is cut off.
This piece of paper used to be folded well and hidden in a dry fig.
They would place this fig with others, and anyone who found it was considered to be lucky.
In other regions of Greece, Kyra-Sarakosti is made from dough with simple ingredients and, most importantly, a lot of salt to prevent it from spoiling.
After all, it is not edible, since it is used as a diary.
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