Same old same old, but now with garlands. Evergreen palm trees against the sea, flowers and dazzling sunshine. Cyprus summer and winter in the photo are almost no different. Winter holidays are here with the smell of smoke from the souvla. Cyprus with its rich cultural heritage and history has some unique and interesting Christmas traditions. Although some traditions may vary from region to region.
Here are some of the common Christmas customs on the island:
Decorations and lighting
As in many other countries, Cypriots decorate their homes with Christmas trees, garlands and toys. The main square of each town is transformed into a Christmas village. The palm trees dressed in snowflakes and street decorations burned out in the bright sun look wild to the expat's eye. During the day all this splendor is interrupted by the unbearable glare of the Cypriot winter sun, but in the evening the Christmas lights come on, and with it the Christmas atmosphere. Christmas tunes are playing in stores and cafes, the main road along the sea is filled in both directions with festive glowing lights and traffic jams.
Christmas Star
Many people know the ancient legend of the amazing flower. It happened a long time ago. On Christmas Eve, people carried valuable things to the temple to decorate the altar. Children from a poor family also wanted to make a gift to Jesus, but they had nothing valuable and beautiful. So they decided to pluck some green branches from a shrub that grew beside the road. When the children brought the bouquet to the temple and put it at the feet of the statue of little Jesus, beautiful scarlet flowers appeared on the branches, which began to be called the Christmas Star or the Star of Bethlehem. Nowadays, the amazing plant with red leaves stands at almost every house.
Christmas church services
Cyprus is predominantly Greek Orthodox. Christmas is the second most important holiday after Easter. Christmas in Cyprus is celebrated on December 25th according to the New Julian calendar. Many people who do not usually go to church consider it their duty to attend a service on Christmas Eve. As usual, the service is held late in the evening. Orthodoxy has a tradition of keeping a forty-day fast before Christmas, but most people fast for one week before the holiday. In stores, you can see yellow and red stickers on groceries, which at first I thought were yesterday's discounted products. Turns out it says the product is lean.
The Dodecameron or the Holy 12 days
These are the days in Cyprus where Christmas is celebrated, New Year's Eve is celebrated and Epiphany is celebrated. Six days of this period belong to the year that ends and the other six days to the year that begins, and together they represent the twelve months of the year.
In the evenings of these twelve days, when it became dark, it was not advisable to go out to avoid meeting with unkind and mischievous creatures. They had a bad habit of appearing on the surface of the earth during the winter holidays with the most evil intentions. And people during this period tried to protect themselves and their homes from such pranksters, necessarily beautifully decorated their homes, hung on the door wreaths, garlands, lit a lot of lights.
Christmas feast
On Christmas Eve, families gather for a festive meal, often consisting of traditional Cypriot dishes. Fish, usually lauraki, is the main course, and special sweets such as kourabiedes (almond sugar cookies) and melomakarona (honey cookies) are served for dessert. Children and sometimes adults go from house to house singing Christmas carols called "calandas". In return, they are often offered candy, money, or other treats.
Although the focus on gifts has increased in recent years, especially under the influence of aggressive advertising, Cypriots give gifts on New Year's Day. Because it is not St. Nicholas who brings them, but St. Basil the Great. This is one of the teachers of the Church, who voktserkovolkologized Greek philosophy. On January 1, the Church celebrates his memory. Since this day coincides with the celebration of the New Year, there is a belief that it is he who gives gifts to little Cypriots. However, Grandpa Vasili is a Santa and does not differ from him in looks.
Vasilopita and Christopsomo
I have no proof, but I'm sure this Cypriot tradition was invented by dentists. A large muffin is baked with a coin inside and offered a slice to family and friends. Strangely enough, the unfortunate person whose teeth are affected by the metal is considered lucky and everyone else congratulates and hugs him (while he dials a number to make an appointment with the nearest dentist).
According to the official local legend, Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea Cappadocia, to protect the city from invading enemies, asked all wealthy residents to collect gold to pay off the invaders. His request was heard and the gold was collected. However, even without it, the enemy miraculously retreated. Valuables had to be given to the owners, but no one knew what and to whom it belonged. Then Basil ordered to bake small pies, in each of which they placed a gold coin or other jewelry. The pies were distributed to the townspeople after the morning service. Naturally, there was no limit to their joy! In memory of the miraculous rescue of the city and the wisdom of Basil the Great, the tradition of baking Vasilopita - a pie with a coin inside.
A special Christmas bread called "Christopsomo" is also baked on Christmas Day. It is often decorated with a cross and other religious symbols and consecrated in church before being eaten on Christmas Day. It is clear that in our affluent times they are baked only in isolated villages, and all modern Cypriots buy Christmas treats from the nearest bakery (in Greek, the bakery is called Fourmos- from the word "oven"). And they're great.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are associated with prosperity and good fortune. Many families have a pomegranate at the center of their Christmas decorations. Locals believe that to attract good luck to a house, you should break a pomegranate on its porch. And it should be broken by the one who is the luckiest in the family (if he has already returned from the dentist). January 1, after the service in the church, and they do this event. Only after that, the family enters the house, and the threshold is necessarily crossed with the right foot. And they also like to get together as a big and noisy family and have a noisy and fun time together.
Christmas villages
Christmas is often spent with family and friends, and in recent times there have been many cultural events in Cyprus. Some villages hold Christmas fairs, hurrahs and organize festive concerts. This is done in order to attract tourists and the events are either free or they charge a token fee for admission. This year a notional Christmas village will grow in the Limassol Municipal Park from December 20 to 24. Real Christmas villages are waiting for visitors during the New Year vacations in historically interesting villages: Agros, Fikardou, Laiki Geitonia, Kalopanayiotis, Lefkara, Deryneia. I think it will be great to go there in sweaters with Christmas patterns and make atmospheric photos.
Among the new traditions that seem to be taking shape in Cyprus:
- Santa Run - a charity Christmas run wearing Christmas hats. This year's run will be in Nicosia on December 26.
- The Coca-Cola truck, which will travel all over Cyprus.
- A double-decker bus in lights in Limassol.
Traditions create a unique and warm atmosphere that characterizes Christmas on the island of Cyprus. These traditions become part of our history with you and me. Although Cypriots have adopted some aspects of the celebration from the British, they still value and preserve their traditional customs.
Read also:
- Cypriots: Characteristics and Mentality Features
- New Schools in Limassol
- Five Cafes in Limassol Where You Can Enjoy a Delicious Breakfast and Amazing Coffee
- Holidays and days off in Cyprus in 2024
- An apartment for an IT worker in Cyprus: 7 main criteria for choosing an apartment in Cyprus
- Permanent Residency in Cyprus in 2024
