Tsiknopempti is the name of the second Thursday of the Pre- Lenten Season in Greece. As it is considered a "preparation" for the fasting period during the Great Lent, it is customary to consume large quantities of meat on this day. The choice of day is not accidental. Orthodox faith considers fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays extremely important, so the day between the two was chosen.
The name "Tsiknopempti" arose from the smoke (in Greek “tsikna”) that the meat produces when it is grilled on charcoal. Traditionally, all households have to grill meat so that the aromas scare the “evil eye” away and bring joy to the house! In the past and mostly in the Greek province, families used to offer large trays full of meat to each other so as to spread the smell of roasted meat to every corner of the village.
Every corner of Greece has its own traditions and customs for Tsinkopempti.
In Komotini, for example, the engaged couples exchange food gifts. The husband must send his companion a roasted wild Turkey and she has to send him a stuffed chicken and baklava in return. In Corfu, the women of the old city come to the windows of the canvasses and gossip by speaking the traditional Corfiot dialect.
Patra, in its turn, revives the custom of "Koulourou". According to it, Giannoula Koulourou thinks that Admiral Wilson is in love with her and that he will soon propose to her. So she dresses up as a bride and goes to the harbor to welcome her love one, scattering the laughter to the people of the city!
Finally, in Serres, they roast the meat on the city streets and then light up big fires and jump over them. Immediately after this, follows the matchmaking of all the single young people in each neighborhood!