Tsiknopempti

Definition: Tsiknopempti is the Thursday during Carnival or the "Greek Mardi Gras" period which marks the begining of the last weekend that observant Greek Orthodox Church members can "legally" eat meat. Because of this, everyone rushes to prepare and enjoy their favorite meat dishes, creating a cloud of smoke where it is being cooked. This gives Tsiknopempti one of its other common names, "Smoke Thursday" or "Smoked Thursday". It is also called "Barbecue Thursday" or "Grilled Thursday" by some. It's a popular day for going out to eat and enjoying as many different meats as possible. It can also be called, as a joke, "Feast of the Carnivores".

Meaning of Tsiknopempti

In English, Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and so Tsiknopempti is sometimes also called "Fat Thursday" - which is logical as the cooking of all that meat results in vast quantities of fat dribbling down onto the coals.

In Greek letters, Tsiknopempti is Τσικνοπέμπτι. In Greek, Thursday is Pempti (Πέμπτη), meaning the fifth day of the week as Greeks count Sunday as the first day. The word tsikna (Τσικνο) refers to the smell of cooked meat - however, "Smelly Thursday" has not caught on as a translation.

Typical Tsiknopempti Recipes and Menus

Meat is king, with the emphasis on grilled meats, though the occasional stew pot will be visible. Here are some Greek grilled meat recipes suitable for Tsiknopempti.

Some hotels and virtually every taverna will put on special menus for Tsiknopempti. By far, the most common item will be some variation of souvlaki - meat on a stick. These will be available everywhere along the streets in the taverna areas and walk carefully to avoid banging into an unexpected grill mostly obscured by smoke, sharing the already narrow streets and walkways. (Souvlaki skewers in the hands of the inexperienced can also be causes of mild injury.) Since eating is the main activity in Athens on Tsiknopempti, it can actually be a good time to visit the museums and monuments, which will be quiet even by the standards of the off-season, especially later in the day.

Tsiknopempti Outside of Greece

Greek communities around the world celebrate Tsiknopempti, and Greek Orthodox church groups may arrange special events. Greek restaurants catering to local Greeks will also add on specials for the day or weekend; this is less likely in a restaurant with a mainly non-Greek clientele. Cities with "Greek Towns" are also likely places to enjoy a taste of Tsiknopempti outside of Greece. Some of these include Chicago, Illinois; Toronto,Canada; and Melbourne, Australia.

Cyprus also vigorously celebrates Tsiknopempti, with parades and other events. You can read an account of Tsiknopempti on Cyprus.

Non-Greek Tsiknopempti

An equivalent of Tsiknopempti is also celebrated in Germany and Poland, but there they are adhering to the Western calendar for Easter, so the date differs. Most Eastern Orthodox and Greek Orthodox church calendars will be in alignment for Tsiknopempti and the rest of the Carnival, Lent, and Easter seasons, but there are some exceptions for faith groups adhering to a different variant of the old calendar, so be sure to check.

Tsiknopempti Dates

: 2013 Tsiknopempti or "Burnt Thursday": March 7th
Tsiknopempti Weekend: Friday, March 8th - Sunday, March 10th

2014 Tsiknopempti or "Burnt Thursday": February 20th
Tsiknopempti Weekend: Friday, February 21st- - Sunday, February 23rd
Greeks seem to have an affection for holidays that fill the air and make it difficult to see or breathe - the popular flour-throwing festival is a less-fragrant but still cough-inducing holiday.

More on Mardi Gras and Carnival in Greece

Pronunciation: Tsik-no-pem-ptee, with the "p" softly sounded, nearly like a "b" or even a "v".

Also Known As: Burnt Thursday, Smoke Thursday, Barbecue Thursday

Alternate Spellings: Tsiknapempti

Common Misspellings: Tsnikopempti, Zignopempti, Tziknapempti, Tsiknobempti