A colorful ‘flour war’ in Greece marks the start of Lent, in photos
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
GALAXIDI, Greece (AP) — Residents and visitors in the Greek seaside town of Galaxidi joyfully throw bags of dyed flour at each other, erupting into a chaotic “flour war.” The event marks the end of carnival festivities and the start of Lent.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Olga Polichronou, age 31, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Olga Polichronou, age 31, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Yannis Matzoros poses for a photograph as he participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Yannis Matzoros poses for a photograph as he participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Emelia Mardaki, age 45, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Emelia Mardaki, age 45, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Takis Karayorgos, age 61, poses for a photograph as he participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Takis Karayorgos, age 61, poses for a photograph as he participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Panagiota Sakandari, age 29, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Panagiota Sakandari, age 29, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Elena Liapi, aged 22, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Elena Liapi, aged 22, poses for a photograph as she participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Revelers take part in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Feb. 23, 2026, starting the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Stamatis Ioannou, aged 25, poses for a photograph as he participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Stamatis Ioannou, aged 25, poses for a photograph as he participates in the annual flour war marking the end of the Carnival season on Clean Monday in Galaxidi, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Athens, Monday Feb. 23, 2026, at the start of the 40-day Christian Lent fast leading to Easter. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
