This is “Mrs. Lent”. Years back she was used as a kind of calendar to help people count down the weeks to Easter. Usually it was a drawing that was made of a woman wearing a scarf to cover her hair. She had seven legs, folded hands – because she was praying – and with no mouth – since she was fasting during this period. Beginning from the first Saturday after Holy Monday, Mrs. Lent would “lose” a leg, in this way marking the passage of time. The last leg, that would get cut off on Holy Saturday, would be placed in the bread especially prepared for Easter Sunday. It was believed to bring luck to whoever found it in his slice of bread, in the same tradition as the “golden lire” is placed in the “Vasilopita”, the cake made for the New Year!
Mrs. Lent can be made with paper, cloth or dough. I’m making her out of a salt dough. It lasts a long time without going bad and it works just like clay or play dough!
***Source: https:/akispetretzikis.com
Ingredients
- 1 cup of salt
- 3 cups of all purpose flour
- 1.5 cups of water
- cloves for decorating
Directions
- Place all ingredients in a bowl and knead into an elastic dough.
- Form the shape of the head and body and add the details as shown in the picture! Its a fun but beautiful tradition in our country!
- Bake for 30min on 170 degrees
