Participants

1. Vasilopoulou Spiridoula (Primary school of Antirrio ,Greece)

2.Dimitra Stavropoulou (Primary school of Antirrio, Greece)

3. Jolanta Zamoyska, Milenium Primary School, Legionowo, Poland

4. Marina Markellou, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

5. Antonia Griva, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

6. Aspasia Mandani Kampisopoulou & Nikoula Floka, Experimental Primary School, University of Patras, Greece 

7. Liudmyla Kalashnikova, Primary school nr 7 in Koszalin, Poland

8. Aikaterini Karagkouni, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

9. Joanna Duda-Kazimierowicz, Primary School No. 5 in Cieszyn, Poland

10. Wioletta Iwańska, ZS Tarczyn, Poland

11. Francesca Maceri , Primary School  , IC PRAIA - Italy

12. Delia Iancu, Secondary School Șuța - Seacă, România

13. Kapogianni Vasiliki, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

14. Joanna Trela - Płonka, Zespół Szkół Specjalnych im. Matki Teresy z Kalkuty, Żory, Poland

15. Iwona Wojtaś, Zespół Szkół Specjalnych im. Matki Teresy z Kalkuty, Żory, Poland

16. Iancu Delia, Secondary School Șuța-Seacă, România

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The students' creations are inspired by 

             one of the oldest customs            of Greek folk tradition, the custom of  

               kyra-Sarakosti 

             (lady-Lent)

    The history of the custom

Kyra- Sarakosti (lady-lent)  associated with the period of Lent,  the 

forty-day fast before Easter. It is essentially an improvised calendar that counts the days until Easter, starting from Carnival Sunday.                   

According  to  tradition, Lady -Lent  is a female figure usually made with dough and salt or paper. 

She wears a long skirt and has seven legs (one for each week of Lent). 

Her arms are crossed because she prays and she has no mouth because 

she fasts, does not comment and does not criticize. She also has no ears not to listen to what the "bad tongues" say. 
Every  Saturday they  cut  off a  leg,  so they  knew  how many  weeks of fasting  were left  until  Easter 

Symbolism

The logic of this custom is associated with purification and abstaining from bad habits, while the form of Lent is linked to patience, restraint, and respect.

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Link  to  ecology and  sustainability 

Traditional habits, such as fasting, are linked to environmental

protection (e.g.  less consumption  of animal products,  respect  for  nature) . The above custom is  an  opportunity to  discuss  ecology, the  need  to protect  the  planet, the  importance  of recycling,  saving  energy and  respecting  natural resources  and  how  these  alues can  be  incorporated into  everyday  habits. 

Action description

Students will work in transnational groups creating lady-Lent with recyclable materials, incorporating elements from the culture of the     partner country in their creation.

Implementation Steps

1. Forming Teams: Teams are created, each consisting of two schools. Teams should be as international as possible to enhance cultural    exchange and diversity.

2 . Creating  lady-Lent :  

a) The  first  school writes  an  element that represents  its  culture (eg    designs  from their music,  colors  or motifs  of their  country,  traditional  symbols  related to  nature,  food, monuments, phrases, etc.).

b) The  second  school  creates  its own  Kyra- Sarakosti   incorporating in  its construction  the  element  of  the  first  school.

 3. Presentation of the artworks in our digital book 

(Each school will belong to two groups :  in the first it will describe a characteristic element of its tradition and in the second it will create lady – Lent with the traditional element of another school)

team 1 

1. Vasilopoulou Spiridoula , Primary school of Antirrio, Greece

2. Jolanta Zamoyska, Milenium Primary School, Legionowo, Poland

Vasilopoulou Spiridoula , Primary school of Antirrio, Greece

Olive.

The olive tree is inextricably linked to the life of the people of Greece.

It was the gift of the goddess Athena to the inhabitants of the city of Athens, who in gratitude gave the name of the goddess to their city.

It is the symbol of peace, hope, abundance and fertility.It also symbolizes good and Hellenism. 

With "Kotinos", an olive wreath made from the wild olive tree that grew outside the temple of Zeus in Olympia, they crowned the winners of the Olympic Games.In addition, the winner was given tons of olive oil in jars.

 Jolanta Zamoyska, Milenium Primary School, Legionowo, Poland

1. Jolanta Zamoyska, 

Milenium Primary School, Legionowo, Poland

2 Vasilopoulou Spiridoula , Primary school of Antirrio, Greece

team 2

Jolanta Zamoyska, Milenium Primary School, Legionowo, Poland

Polish folk embroidery is a masterpiece of color and tradition, bringing to life the beauty of nature and heritage. Łowicz embroidery, full of vibrant flowers and proud, symmetrically arranged roosters, reflects the energy and joy of central Poland. Kashubian embroidery, with its delicate floral patterns in shades of blue, red, green, and yellow, carries the elegance and charm of the northern regions. Every stitch tells a story, passed down through generations, making these designs a true treasure of Polish culture. See them, and you’ll feel the heart of Poland in every thread!

Vasilopoulou Spiridoula , Primary school of Antirrio, Greece

 team 3

Antonia Griva, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

Francesca Maceri , Primary School  , IC PRAIA - Italy

Antonia Griva, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

Greek Herbs and spices

Some of the most common are oregano, mint, dill, basil, cinnamon, cumin, and coriander

Francesca Maceri , Primary School  , IC PRAIA - Italy

Vasiliki Kapogianni, 
62nd Primary School of Patra, Greece

Dominika Guz, 

Specjalny Ośrodek Szkolno-Wychowawczy, Puławy, Poland

 team 4

Vasiliki Kapogianni

                            Greek Mythology and Nature

Greek mythology is a key element of Greek culture, deeply connected to nature, wisdom, and transformation, values that align with environmental awareness.

By incorporating mythology into Kyra Sarakosti, tradition is blended with ecological awareness, inspiring creativity and sustainability.

*Zeus: God of the Sky & Thunder

*Poseidon: presiding over the sea and storms

*Aphrodite: associated with love, fertility and beauty, her symbols include seashells, myrtles, roses, doves, sparrows, and swans.

*Artemis: the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature and vegetation

*Demeter: the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth

Dominika Guz, Poland

team 5

Aspasia Mandani Kampisopoulou & Nikoula Floka, Experimental Primary School of the University of Patras, Greece

Iancu Delia, Secondary School Șuța-Seacă, România

                   Aspasia Mandani Kampisopoulou & Nikoula Floka, 

       Experimental Primary School of the University of Patras, Greece

Meander (Greek Key Pattern): A Symbol of Eternity and Unity. The Meander, also known as the Greek Key pattern, is one of the most iconic and enduring motifs in Greek art and design. It consists of a continuous, interlocking geometric pattern, often forming a repeated right-angled or wave-like design.

Iancu Delia, Secondary School Șuța-Seacă, România

Aikaterini Karagkouni, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

Joanna Trela-Płonka & Iwona Wojtas

Zespół Szkół Specjalnych im. Matki Teresy z Kalkuty, POLAND

team 6

Aikaterini Karagkouni, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

Blue & White, Cross

     Blue symbolizes the sea and the sky, while white represents the sea foam and the clear clouds.

     The cross is the symbol of the predominant religion in Greece.

     All these are elements of the Greek flag, which also served as a source of inspiration for the 5th-grade students.

Joanna Trela-Płonka, Iwona Wojtas

Zespół Szkół Specjalnych im. Matki Teresy z Kalkuty, Żory, POLAND

team 7

Monika Świdzińska, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 34

im. Józefa Malewskiego w Olsztynie, POLAND

Vasiliki Kapogianni, 62nd Primary School of Patra, Greece

The White Eagle is the oldest of Poland's national symbols. It is its emblem, its coat of arms. Its origins are both legendary and historical

Vasiliki Kapogianni, 62nd Primary School of Patra, Greece

team 8

Radosław Grygiel, Primary School in Mełgiew, Poland

Aspasia Mandani Kampisopoulou & Nikoula Floka, Experimental Primary School of the University of Patras, Greece

Radosław Grygiel, Primary School in Mełgiew, Poland

When looking into folk traditions related to lent, one can come across a fascinating custom of creating flower carpets that are put on sidewalks.

                    Aspasia Mandani Kampisopoulou & Nikoula Floka,

         Experimental Primary School of the University of Patras, Greece

team 9

Delia Iancu, Secondary School Șuța-Seacă, România

Aikaterini Karagkouni, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

Delia Iancu, Secondary School Șuța-Seacă, România

IA  - ”IA” is a blouse, a component of the traditional Romanian costume. It is made of white cotton, linen or borangic cloth. It is decorated with embroidery in Romanian folk motifs, especially on the sleeves, chest and neck. Some are also decorated with beads or sequins.

Aikaterini Karagkouni, 62nd Primary School of Patras, Greece

team 10

Marina Markellou, 62nd Primary School of Patra, Greece

Karolina Wegner, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 11 w Płocku