Cyprus Culture

Olives in Cyprus are very special and just about every property has a tree or one nearby. They can be seen everywhere from the olive farms to the beaches and even in the middle of walkways.  An olive tree can live for several hundred years and each olive tree becomes a work of art in its’ own right – the older a tree becomes the more intricate and interesting the growth pattern. This beautiful,...

The celebration of  Kataklysmos is a Greek Orthodox festival with strong pagan roots relating back to the Greek myth of Deukalion and the ark he built to survive the floods and ancient ceremonies between Aphrodite and Adonis. The festival also relates to the Old Testament tale of Noah’s ark. Kataklysmos is still celebrated with great passion every year all over Cyprus. The festivities take place 50 days...

The carnivals are over and Lent is almost over – a 40 day fasting period of no meat, poultry or dairy products is near the end. The bakeries accommodate those who fast by adding dairy-free, egg-free and meat-free pastries and cookies to their already vast array of goodies. Generally, fasting is followed more strictly in the villages of Cyprus than in the towns, but most restaurants and takeaways also...

April 1st marks the independence of Cyprus from British colonial rule. EOKA started a guerrilla-style campaign against British colonial rule, which was aimed at self-determination and union with Greece, on April 1, 1955.  It is also known as EOKA Day and falls on April Fools Day or  "All Fools Day." Students from all over Cyprus attend church services on this day.  It is also a bank holiday so many...

Saint Patrick's Day is coming up this Thursday, March 17th. Saint Patrick was the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland and even though the day is a religious holiday it has become more of a secular celebration of the Irish culture. And although it is not a public holiday like it is in Ireland and a few other countries there are still many parties, parades, festivities, and green...

Green Monday is a public holiday in Cyprus and Greece and it signifies the beginning of Lent and fasting before Easter - no meat products are consumed until Easter Sunday. After the costume parties, street parades and festivities that took place throughout Cyprus, Green Monday is a day where families and friends gather outdoors with a feast of traditional fasting foods such as a variety of fresh vegetables...

Cyprus has many holidays and the next one is upon us, Cyprus Independence Day. The holiday is celebrated on the 1st of October every year.  Cyprus became an independent country after a four-year war from 1955 until 1959 against the British. Cyprus was a former British colony between 1878 until 1960. The island actually gained its Independence on August 16th,1960 although it is celebrated on the 1st of...

It is almost that time of the year again, the annual wine festival held in Limassol. (Lemesos) is known as the party city of Cyprus and when you visit the wine festival you will see why! It is also Cyprus’s wine capital and has hosted the annual event every year since 1961. This popular festival is held at the Municipal Gardens which is right on the promenade, (and also where the much-debated...

The carnivals are over and Lent is underway – a 40 day fasting period of no meat, poultry or dairy products. The bakeries accommodate those who fast by adding dairy-free, egg-free and meat-free pastries and cookies to their already vast array of goodies. Generally, fasting is followed more strictly in the villages of Cyprus than in the towns, but most restaurants and takeaways also add fasting dishes to...

By: Patricia Winter   - Which one of the following would you prefer 1) a “grab and go” high fat/high sugar meal from one of the many fast food places around or 2) a delicious, healthy and freshly prepared meal? I believe that I can guess which one most of us would choose – the second. A few weeks ago we discovered Dori’s, a Lebanese takeaway that had recently opened in Paphos and...