It's a good time to think about your future plans and plan your upcoming vacation.
The calendar year 2023 brings a host of festivals and celebrations for residents and visitors of the island. Some are religious, some are national, and some are just a good excuse to drink and dance.
Among them:
January 1, Sunday - New Year's Eve
January 6, Friday - Epiphany (Phota).
February 27, Monday - Green Monday
March 25, Saturday - Greek Independence Day
April 1, Saturday - Day of the beginning of the national liberation struggle against the British colonizers.
April 14, Friday - Good Friday
April 16, Sunday - Easter
April 17, Monday - Easter Monday
April 18, Tuesday - Easter Tuesday
May 1, Monday - Labor Day
June 5, Monday - Cataclysmos
August 15, Tuesday - Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October 1, Sunday - Independence Day
October 28, Saturday - "Ohi" Day
December 25, Monday - Christmas Day
December 26, Tuesday - Boxing Day
Interestingly, in 2023 Cypriots will have six long weekends due to the fact that three holidays fall on a Monday or Friday (Epiphany, Labor Day, Christmas) and three more weekends (Clean Monday, Good Friday, Kataklysmos) always fall on a Monday or Friday:
- January 6-8 - Epiphany
- February 25-27 - Green Monday
- April 14-18 - Easter holidays
- April 29-30 and May 1 - Labor Day
- June 3-5 - Cataclysmos
- December 23-26 - Christmas
On the other hand, four holiday days will "disappear" as they fall on weekends. Unfortunately, Cyprus does not practice postponing holidays, so another non-working day is not added:
- New Year's Day - January 1, Sunday
- Greek Independence Day - March 25, Saturday.
- Day of the beginning of the national liberation struggle against the British colonizers - April 1, Saturday.
- Easter - Sunday, April 16
- Independence Day - Sunday, October 1
- Ohi Day - October 28, Saturday
Now let's take a closer look at the most significant holidays in Cyprus:
New Year's
New Year's Day in Cyprus is known as St. Basil's Day, the Greek Santa Claus. Most Cypriots celebrate the holiday in a family circle, eating souvla and Vasilopita cake. The one who comes across a coin baked in the pastry, in the new year awaits good luck and wealth.
Green Monday
Green or Clean Monday is a traditional Christian holiday, the first day of Lent, which lasts seven weeks before Easter. On this day, purification, both physical and spiritual, should begin. Clean Monday is an official holiday in Cyprus. Traditionally, all houses are cleaned and the special Lenten bread Laganah is baked (or bought).
The main event of Clean Monday is a family picnic and kite flying. Everyone tries to fly their kite as high as possible. The highest kite promises a good year to its owner. And the kite carnival symbolizes the farewell of winter and the meeting of spring.
On this day it is customary to congratulate each other on the beginning of Lent with the traditional wish of Kali Sarakosti (in Greek Καλή Σαρακοστή), which means "Good Lent".
Greek Independence Day
The national holiday of Greece is also celebrated by Cypriots on March 25. It is marked by numerous parades. About the enslavement of the Greeks by the Turks can be told for a long time. The meaning of the holiday is that on March 25, 1821 the Greeks rebelled and eventually got rid of the yoke. However, the liberation lasted for 10 years. Note: Greeks and Cypriots celebrate not the end of the war, but its beginning. Such are their rules!
On March 25, the whole country goes out in parades. The biggest parades are traditionally held in Nicosia. Here you can see columns of military equipment (tanks, self-propelled artillery, armored vehicles, etc.), firefighters, special forces, sailors and infantrymen marching foot in foot to the accompaniment of the orchestra. School parades are organized almost everywhere - both in big and small towns. At the head of the procession are veterans, and then Cypriots in national costumes. The procession is closed by school children.
Day of the beginning of the national liberation struggle against the British colonizers
On this day in 1955, the "National Organization of Cypriot Independence Fighters" (EOKA) entered the active phase of the struggle. It was headed by retired Greek army officer Georgios Grivas. In Cyprus began a series of riots, anti-British demonstrations and clashes between the British military and the civilian population of the island. The Cypriots' struggle for freedom did not succeed until 1960, when the island gained independence. Every year on April 1, children and adults carry fresh flowers to the graves and monuments of the heroes who died for the freedom of Cyprus.
Easter
Christian Easter is one of the most important national holidays in Cyprus. Preparations for the event start a week in advance: housewives bake Easter tsoureki and paint eggs. On Easter Eve, the Holy Fire is brought to the island by plane from Israel, and the faithful rush to the churches to burn an effigy of Judas. In the morning, the holy thing is to feast on lamb giblet soup and "chock" dyed eggs.
Labor Day
May Day for Cypriots is an extraordinary day off, when you can relax or do your own thing. With one exception - no labor parades are held on the island. But folk festivals and concerts are an integral part of the celebration.
Cataclysmos
The holiday is associated with the memory of the Flood and the rescue of Noah. Cataclysmos takes place in all the towns of Cyprus with great fanfare. Folklore performances, games, songs and dances take place one after another. In the coastal towns there is a big fair, competitions in sea sports (traditional regatta), festive swims with prizes for the winners. In the evening, the cities are immersed in the bright light of fireworks. People go to exhibitions and concerts.
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
This important holiday does not pass in Cyprus without festive services, a mass procession and a colorful parade to the sounds of a brass band. When the official part ends, the festivities begin with songs, dances and stuffed lambs. For Cypriots, this period is the height of the vacations, many prefer to spend their vacations in August, and on the holiday itself take part in the festivities.
"Ohi" Day
The history of Ohi Day is full of drama: when on the night of October 28, 1940, fascist Italy offered the Greeks to surrender, they responded with a categorical "ohi". The Italians were infuriated by the refusal, and the next morning their troops invaded Greece. The memory of the repulse given to the fascist troops, honored in Greece and Cyprus.
Every year, colorful processions and parades are held on the island to commemorate the fateful response, but the liveliest celebration of the "day of refusal" in Nicosia and Limassol, where blue and white Greek flags fly at every turn.
Christmas
Although Cypriots are Orthodox, they celebrate Christmas together with Catholics at the end of December - according to the Gregorian calendar. Another surprise: along with a fluffy Christmas tree on the island it is customary to decorate ships with garlands. On the eve of Christmas the children come to the streets to sing carols to the melodious ringing of musical triangles and to collect sweets. The catch is serious: christopsomo pies and crispy kourabiedes cookies are baked in every house for the year ahead.
Besides the main ones, Cypriots celebrate about 40 holidays a year. The most popular among them are:
- Aphrodite Festival in Paphos - an annual classical music festival dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
- Anthestiria is an annual flower festival that expresses homage to the extraordinary natural riches of the island. It is a day to celebrate the arrival of spring with extravagant carnivals and processions.
- The Limassol Wine Festival is a festival dedicated to Dionysus, the god of winemaking. During the festival, many wine producers offer free drinks to guests.
- Limassol Carnival - takes place at the beginning of spring and lasts for ten days. This bright and colorful event attracts visitors from all over the world.
- The Larnaca Music Festival is an interesting event that takes place in the city's amphitheater. And also in the theater located in the medieval fort. This festival is a great opportunity to experience the music and dance of Cyprus. In addition, productions of ancient Greek and modern plays take place during the festival.
- Halloween is of English heritage and is celebrated on October 31. Many Cypriots celebrate, some outright dislike it. The traditions are Anglo-Saxon: pumpkins, unclean things, carols with the words "sweet or nasty".
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