Dates for Apokries (Carnival time in Greece), Kathari Dheftéra (Clean Monday or Shrove Monday) and Easter for 2010. The dates change every year and this year is no exception - however, once again, Greek Easter is the same as the western Easter.

Apokries - Sunday 24 January to Sunday 14 February (runs for 3 weeks, all over Greece, before the start of Lent). In Spetses and Porto Heli, the big Carnival celebration is always on the last Sunday of the three weeks of Apokries. The last day to party, before the first day of Lent. So, this year it will be Sunday 14 February.

Kathari Dheftéra - Monday 15 February (the first day of Lent). A day to feast and pic-nic on fasting foods and to fly your kites! Get together with friends and family and make the most of 'Clean Monday'

Easter - Sunday 4 April. The same as the western Easter. However, in Greece, 'Megali Efthomada' (the 'big week') starts as it translates, a week before, on the Monday. Big preparations take place all week, culminating in a feast of lamb on Easter Sunday.