Optional public holidayMovable holiday (-48 days from Orthodox Easter)
Clean Monday
About the holiday
Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) opens Great Lent, 48 days before Orthodox Easter. Greeks fly kites, picnic on lagana bread, taramosalata, olives and seafood, and the day marks the end of Carnival. Public services, schools and banks are closed; for private businesses it is an optional holiday, although most of the country takes the day off.
Who is off?
What the holiday means for each sector.
- Private sector
- Optional day off
- Public sector
- Closed
- Schools
- Closed
- Banks
- Closed
Public services, schools and banks are closed; private businesses may work.
Upcoming dates
The next years at a glance.
Impact on working days
2026
In 2026 the holiday falls on a Monday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
Clean Monday creates a long weekend from 21 February to 23 February 2026: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
2027
In 2027 the holiday falls on a Monday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
Clean Monday creates a long weekend from 13 March to 15 March 2027: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
2028
In 2028 the holiday falls on a Monday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
Clean Monday creates a long weekend from 26 February to 28 February 2028: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
Sources
Dates and legal status were checked against:
- GSEE – KEPEA: Holidays and exempt days (mandatory, optional, local holidays, 1 May transfer)ΚΕΠΕΑ / ΓΣΕΕ
- Law 1157/1981, article 1 — holidays and half-days of public servicesHellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via taxheaven.gr)
- Presidential Decree 79/2017 (Government Gazette A' 109/01.08.2017), article 3 — breaks, holidays and school celebrations in nursery and primary schoolsHellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via kodiko.gr)
- Hellenic Bank Association — bank holidays follow the public-sector holiday calendarHellenic Bank Association
Last verified: 7 October 2026
Plan your leave
Taking leave around Clean Monday?
Pick your days on the calendar: weekends, public holidays and school breaks are already marked, so you see at once how many leave days you need and how long the break becomes.