Customs and Taditions
These include religious festivals, some of which have long-standing pagan roots and are very strongly embedded into Cypriot life. Some of the most important are listed here:
New Year’s Day – the patron saint is Ayios Vasilios tis Kessarianis (St. Basil of Ceasarea). Many of the beliefs are similar to those of European countries.
Epiphany - on 5th. January and ‘Lokomadhes’ (doughnuts) are made. There is also the religious ceremony of the blessing of water at a pond, lake, river or by the seashore.
Kataklysmos – A religious festival with very ancient pagan roots (from the days of the rites of Aphrodite) is celebrated all over Cyprus. People gather in seaside resorts to see, hear and participate in the singing and dancing of local folk music.
The Carnival – “Secosis” - This is a series of celebrations, again of pagan origin, to welcome back life in the spring after the darkness of winter and it takes place early in the season. The climax of the festival is reached on the last weekend when the people participate in parades, dancing and singing in carnival atmosphere They also spend the Sunday in an ‘orgy’ of eating and drinking. This is reversed on the following day ‘Green Monday’ or Ash Monday, a day of cleansing and the beginning of the Lenten fast
Easter – “Lambri” – The greatest event of the Cypriot calendar. For a whole week church services reconstruct the last seven days of Jesus life on earth. On Thursday night comes the climax with the arrest of Jesus. Black veils cover the icons and other parts of the church to signify deep mourning for the Saviour. The burial of
Jesus is on Good Friday and this is done in the ‘Epitaphios’, a carved wooden tomb placed in the middle of the church and decorated by local ladies with all kinds of spring flowers.
Saturday Midnight Mass is the highlight of Easter when the lights go out, the priest then says “Christos Anesti” (Jesus Has risen), the lights come back on and fire works light the skies. On Sunday, families gather together to make ‘Souvla’ – barbecued lamb, which breaks their long fast. It is, in many ways, the equivalent of the western European Christmas as the time when families travel to be together and celebrate.
August 15th. - Is a celebratory festival for ‘Panayia’ – the Virgin Mary and in churches and Monasteries dedicated to her there are celebrations and festivals. August 14th. and 15th. are usually public holidays.
