Why do Greek Fly kites on Clean Monday?

Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) is when families and friends celebrate delicious fasting foods and the widespread custom of flying kites.

For most children, this is the essential activity of the day. Kids always compete on whose kite will fly higher.

Origins of the kite-flying tradition

There are several theories on why we fly a kite on Kathara Deftera. Following the Dionysian spree of Apokries, flying signifies the ascension and purification of the soul. From a Christian point of view, it is symbolic of the human spirit flying into the skies and getting closer to God. This tradition probably originated in China, where it is still popular today. People in Asian countries flew kites of square or cylindrical shapes during religious ceremonies and rituals to keep demons away. They believed that the higher the kite flew, the luckier they would be. Kites may have also existed in Ancient Greece. It appears that a man called Archytas designed something that resembled a kite. Sadly, his original works have not survived.