Cyprus is a country of public holidays and days off. When you have palm trees, beaches, the sun and cafes around… well, rightly so — who would want to work? That’s why you can stumble across something in a different place every weekend — be it a festive occasion, a festival, a sports event or something in the open air. The majority of events have a local or one time character to them. Still, there are some which are firmly celebrated every year and in a big way. Today we’re going to tell you how people in Limassol and its vicinity have fun all year round.
January
This is a relatively quiet month. The sky is clouded over, which is a rarity for Cyprus, a cold wind blows in from the sea, and you rarely find people strolling along the promenade. The city sleeps in anticipation of Spring. For the time being, tourists sit in their offices in Russia, only dreaming that when summer comes, they’ll dart off to the south for a relaxing holiday.
Because of this, January hasn’t spoiled us with a significant number of public holidays. A couple of Orthodox celebrations which aren’t marked with excessive grandeur.
That being said, on the 1st of January, New Year is actively celebrated in Limassol. Or the Cypriot version — Day of Saint Vasilii (also the local Father Christmas). In truth, this contrasts to Russian traditions, as New year in Cyprus isn’t public holiday No. 1, or even No. 2. Nevertheless, the 1st of January is, all the same, a memorable day. Firstly, this is a state holiday and so a day off. Secondly, Cypriots have a tradition of making vasilopita — a pie made from semolina flour, with a coin baked inside. Whoever gets the piece with the coin can sit back and have their choice of yacht to buy, as the financial year will be one of success for them! Thirdly, it is custom to launch fireworks on New Year, as well as to dance and have a good time. Centralised events aren’t actively held, as a rule. Still, the cafes, hotels, clubs and restaurants, make up for this by organising fun, new-year-themed parties.
Though the majority of Cypriots have already managed to celebrate and shower people with presents for Christmas, every tenth resident of Limassol is Russian. This peculiarity has influenced the popularisation of the New Year.
February
The gloomiest month in the Cypriot calendar. One of freezing cold weather and pastel shades. Spring, however, is only round the corner. And at the end of February, the country’s largest-scale event takes place: the Grand Carnival!
Just picture the scale of it: a 125-year-old tradition of celebration! 10 days of non-stop fun! Up to one hundred thousand participants! And that’s not talking about the idlers and gapers, but only those actually involved in the procession. Hundreds of carnival platforms. Music booming in every region of the city. All parking spaces, even those far out from the centre, are jam-packed.
It’s a pleasure to see how literally every Limassol resident takes the carnival so seriously, not just by directly participating in the procession. This is evident, as the majority of those who come to celebrate are kitted out in costumes. Shops and cafes are also decorated for the occasion. Even somewhere in banks, you can see the clerks, who usually dress in a boring way, with horns or in funny hats. Or if you’re just walking down a dark street, turn around the corner, and you’ll easily bump into a dancing crowd out of nowhere.
The carnival traditionally starts on “Stinky Thursday”. On this day, the Queen of the carnival enters the city. The many members of her vibrant and motley retinue are behind her, running and dancing. She begins her parade from the main street in Limassol, then the whole procession makes its way along the narrow back streets of the old town. It’s a rather strange spectacle. A narrow, dark alley, low-lying residences, worn away by time. And then bang! A bright and brilliant crowd appears from around the corner.
On this day, the Cypriots, having seen the Queen off with gazes and kind words of farewell, return to their homes and cook meat in the company of their closest relatives and friends. The whole city is puffing and giving off smoke. Don’t be surprised. The first day of the carnival is Tsiknopempti, also known as smoky Thursday and an equivalent of Russian maslenitsa. The final day before lent when you can eat everything. And if Russians eat an endless supply of blini pancakes, then Cypriots prefer to stuff their stomachs chock-full of meat. Making souvla is an essential and unbroken carnival tradition. This isn’t surprising, for the word carnival derives from the Latin “carne”, which translates to meat.
The Queen’s entrance into the city is a rather grandiose affair and entirely on the same scale as any sort of carnival in Gelendzhik. This, however, is actually nothing in comparison to the main carnival procession. But… that will only be on day nine. Let’s not jump the gun just yet.
As soon as the queen has entered the city — that’s it. The population forgets about their work and commitments, the next 10 days are for dancing and grooving. But that’s not all. The carnival consists of exhibitions, processions, open-air celebrations, tasting sessions, games, quests, bike rides, musical performances, motor races and parties. A separate event of significance is the kid’s carnival — the first and favourite event of all Cypriot children.
And well, everything is so grand on the tenth day, that the organisers of some South-American carnivals would be dying of envy. Not only do locals fly in for the carnival in Limassol, but thousands of tourists from other countries.
Although the procession begins closer to lunchtime, by morning the street on which the parade passes is already full to the brim with people. Music, dancing, laughter and happy faces all around. Hawker stands and wagons with beer and festival food are carted out beforehand onto Makarios Avenue (this is the street which the procession moves along).
A hundred thousand participants is serious business. And for that reason, the route to the carnival is rather extensive. It’s nice to see that after several kilometres, the participants aren’t barely managing to drag themselves along, panting from fatigue, but continuing to dance and amuse the public until the very finale.
When it gets dark, the festivities don’t end. Raging parties flare up at different ends of the city, bringing an end to the leading annual event in Cyprus.
Another festival in February, far more modest than the carnival, but by no means any less authentic, is the Blossoming Almond Tree Festival. It. is traditionally held at the very end of the month in the village of Limnatis, 25 km from Limassol. Aside from various almond-based food (drinks and sweets), you can also try other Cypriot delicacies here: souvlaki, halloumi, local bread. But the chief delight is for the eyes. The endless almond gardens. Trees covered with pinkish or white flowers, imparting their inimitable scent onto everything around. Looking at the blossoming almond gardens is one of the main tasks and reasons for the festival’s popularity.
March
The peals of the unbridled February celebrations have barely died away as Spring begins to manifest itself. The Troodos is still covered in snow, and for now, tourists still remain few in number. The clouds scurry about, to and fro, the sea knocks against the coast with its icy waves, but the air temperature, still unsure of itself, timidly begins to rise at a slow pace. And a fantastic sign of nature rearing its eyes is the festival of mandarins. Like the Blossoming Almonds festival, it also isn’t held in Limassol, but the village of Dierona.
The festival has a lot of fans, so we strongly recommend you make your way here beforehand because finding a free parking space in a small village can prove to be a highly exceptional feat. If you get here after the start, then there’s a risk of coming to a standstill in a dense traffic jam of festival guests who’ve also arrived a little late. As the streets are very narrow, traffic jams during the festival are commonplace.
The first thing you can and need to do, in fact, is properly gorge yourself on the actual mandarins. They are free and lie in abundance in baskets at the entrance to the festival. When task number one is accomplished, then you can start to have a look around. There are stalls with different food and souvenirs standing all around. You can have a dabble at mandarin liqueur, mandarin vodka, honey, syrups and many other things. The cafe joints lying nearby beckon you in with the intoxicating smells of roasted meat and home-made pizza.
While merriment and trade are happening below, tables and chairs are laid out on the hilltop above, near the church. The stage is being set. This is where the concerts will be held, as well as the serving of meat and snacks, specially prepared for the occasion.
Due to the village being small, the food is homemade, while the guests are open, friendly and cheerful. The festival has a cosy, very homely atmosphere and is perhaps the ideal way to see in Spring.
Another unusual March event is the Donkey Festival in Skarinou. Not one of the “must do” activities, but if you find yourself in Cyprus in March, and with kids at that, then we definitely recommend going.
The first festival was held only in 2014, but persistent public interest has allowed for it to become an annual event. The “end of March” is a somewhat conditional marker, as only two out of the four festivals have taken place at this time. But, all the same, these jumping dates will probably end soon enough.
Why go to the festival? Well, naturally, the main reason is to communicate with these cute, kind and wonderful creatures. To stroke them. Feed them. Go for a ride on them. Plus, like at any other Cypriot festival, you will definitely be able to try the prized possession of traditional Cypriot cuisine: cheeses, meat and sweets, as well as to have a taste of donkey’s milk and various other drinks made from this milk.
April
April — this is real spring. There still aren’t any mosquitoes, but it’s already warm. Warm days, but cold nights still. Medlars — the main and tastiest symbol of Cypriot spring — are appearing on markets and in supermarkets.
Although April isn’t replete with a wide variety of entertainment programmes, it still possesses in its arsenal some “heavy festival artillery” — Easter.
Cypriots are Orthodox; however, the local religious traditions differ somewhat perceptively from those of their Russian counterparts. One of such peculiarities is the preparation of epitaphs — gilded images of Jesus. Each parish decorates the epitaphs in their own way, secretly competing with others to make theirs more beautiful and magnificent. The epitaphs are then brought along the streets of Limassol.
Another characteristic, which once existed in Russia, is the symbolic burning of Judas. At night, the city literally transforms. Smoke and fires can be seen everywhere. It seems as though you’re on the set of “The Purge”. Fire engine sirens are howling at every turn, the city-dwellers are pouring out onto the streets, liturgical chanting rings out of the churches. In general, for a Russian tourist, the night of Easter will remain their limit for atmospheric and exotic events.
When all the fires have burned out, the city folk go back to their homes, accompanied by their loved ones, and eat traditional Easter soup and meat.
May
May in Cyprus is practically summer. The column on the thermometer periodically shows 40, a hot wind sways the palm canopies, the cities are awaking from their slumbers, the beaches are filling up with a few sunbathers for now, and alcohol consumption is growing by the tens. But the main influx of tourists is still packing its bags and only dreaming about their holidays ahead. May is one of the best months in Cyprus. It’s important from a festival viewpoint. Several essential and amazing events are held all at once this month.
Anfestiria — a festival which traces its roots somewhere deep back into the times of Ancient Greece and the worship of the god Dionysus. Now, of course, nobody worships those gods, and the essence of the event is completely different. Held at the end of May, Anfestiria is the most important flowers festival on the island. There are two main events for the day: the first involves a multitude of flower fairs scattered across the whole of Limassol. The flowers sold here are, by and large, grown on the island, with a massive selection on offer and at relatively low prices. The second event is the flower parade: cars decorated with real flowers slowly make their way through the city, creating a beautiful and festive atmosphere for the locals and tourists. If you don’t give your favourite person flowers on this day — it’s a terrible crime.
The second event of significance for May-time Limassol hasn’t come from the antiquity. On the contrary, this is a rather new, but trendy, young festival for street culture. It’s likely the main event for representatives of informal culture and the underground scene. You’ll encounter people here from all youth subcultures, a lot of hand-made items, free alcohol, blissful yogis and hippies, as well as upbeat music and genuine joy on the faces of guests and those involved.
Still, Cyprus is a state, in which people devote significant meaning to traditions, norms of decency and traditional culture. If for anywhere like Amsterdam, a similar festival would be an ordinary, weekday thing, then for the sedate and steady Limassol — seeing a huge crowd of hipsters is a unique phenomenon encountered literally once a year.
One of the prized possessions of the festival is its graffiti. Thanks to this, practically the entire old centre now looks like an American ghetto. But the emphasis here is on the “how”. You won’t see any scribbling or the ubiquitous, tiresome autographs of 12-year-old “gangster” kings. Everything here is done on a serious level. With finesse and taste.
The festival takes place over the entire day, from morning till evening, in the narrow back streets of the old city. To find it, simply head towards the sounds of music which you can hear from any part of the centre.
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Another fantastic May event is the Rose Festival in Agros village. May is the month when the Damascus rose blossoms, a beauty which you can only see once a year. Boundless pink fields lie in the Agros vicinity, and the festival coincides with the flower harvest.
Rosewater is one of the most common souvenirs which tourists take back from Cyprus. You’ll be able to select water of exceptional quality at the festival.
Aside from purchases by tourists and the pink delight to the eyes, the festival offers other points of intrigue: excursions through the factories, various refreshments, music, dancing and even a trip on a steam train. Plus, on this day, all of the sights are open to the public in Agros — one of the largest and wealthiest villages in Cyprus.
And finally, an important date which directly concerns tourists and guests to Limassol from Russia — the 9th of May. Thanks to this date, Limassol is known as the “Russian city”, with a vast and active diaspora — the 9th of May is also widely celebrated and very much in full swing. Celebrations are held both in an organised and private format: with red flags on car windows, music from the war years carrying out of the windows, ribbons on clothing and so on.
The Molos promenade holds national outdoor parties, fairs and entertainment shows, while in the evening, there is a memorial march procession. You’ll agree that having a memorial march under the palms looks unusual, yet picturesque.
The day finishes with a large concert and the participation of famous faces from the ranks of Russian stardom.
Would you like to see Russians honour the memory of Victory two seas away? Then be sure to come here.
June
In June, Summer has already taken its dominion on the island. It’s a month of heat and warm seas. Hot, but bearable. The party life is returning to Limassol.
Beginning straight away from the first of June, Cyprus changes beyond recognition. The airports of Paphos and Larnaca release millions of tourists from all over the world. And, of course, a substantial number of them are Russians. From June, Limassol becomes outright Russian. In the tourist zones, I reckon you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who doesn’t know Russian. Therefore, it’s highly logical that June is the month when the grand Cyprus-Russian festival is held in Limassol.
The festival emerged in 2005 and has since grown from the first attempts to celebrate Victory Day in Limassol. Both celebrations then very quickly split apart, becoming stand-alone events in their own right.
The Cypriot-Russian festival of friendship is traditionally held in Limassol Municipal Park. The programme includes the following: fairs, concerts, children’s entertainment, master-classes, exhibitions, sports contests, theatrical performances, fireworks and many other things. The organisers approach the event very seriously; therefore, the festival programme is full to the brim with items of interest. A large part of the public is, naturally, Russians. But there are more than a few curious Cypriots who have popped in to learn more about Russian culture.
One other pleasing characteristic is the food at the festival: not only can you try traditional Russian salad, pies and kvas, but the main dish — Russian barbecue. Cypriots are masters of cooking meat. However, finding decent shashlik, cooked as it’s done in Russia, is a highly challenging task. Whereas here at the festival: By all means! Have as much as you want!
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Another recognised and highly exotic celebration on the first month of summer is Cataclysmos — a festival of water and one of a particularly Cypriot nature, which isn’t celebrated anywhere else, except on the island. It translates from Greek as “flood”. In fact, the swimming season officially opens with the festival. Its history spans back more than two thousand years and traces its roots to two beginnings all at once: the biblical myth of Noah and the ancient Greek stories of how Zeus sent a great flood to Earth.
What do people do on this day? First and foremost, they go for a dip in the sea and pour water over each other. This is the day you can do that. So, if you’re walking along the promenade, peacefully minding your own business, when somebody tips a bucket of water over you, then it means today is water day, so you’ve no need to be alarmed.
Aside from the active water activities on Cataclysmos, other events are held, such as fairs, fireworks, exhibitions, concerts and numerous sporting events linked with the sea. Besides, a wide-scale festival of folk dance amongst amateur dancers also takes place on the same day.
July
July is one of the hottest months. There’s not a cloud in the sky, the sun burns like crazy, and you won’t meet a soul outside during the day. That being said, you’ll come across urban beaches chocker-block full of tourists. What are you supposed to do in such heat? It’s time to end the religious holidays and fully live it up! Welcome to the Limassol beer fiesta! Let’s drink some beer and have a great time!
It must be said that Cypriots aren’t the biggest fans of beer, and the variety of Cypriot beer pales in comparison to the likes of Germany, the Czech Republic and Belgium. The beer festival, however, is celebrated loudly and in a big way.
Its unique quality is that it isn’t focused around one local square, but held practically throughout the entire city. Here you’ll have performances on open-air stages from famous musicians all over the world, even a unique carnival and, let’s not forget, beer-beer-beer. Stalls with a vast selection of the good stuff are set up everywhere, so you’ve the opportunity to taste them all.
August
August is traditionally the hottest month on the Cypriot calendar. The grass has been scorched to the point where it has a yellow tint, the ground is dry, and the sun stings like a scorpion. The night air doesn’t get a chance to cool down, and the stuffiness is practically 24 hours non-stop. That being said, this doesn’t trouble the tourists one bit. The city is humming with clubs, restaurants, pubs, concerts and parties. Life is seething. Nobody wants to miss the last month of summer bacchanalia. And on the very last day of August, for the close of the season, Cypriots present tourists with a stylish farewell gift: festival wine!
The fact we’ve attributed the festival of wine to August is somewhat crafty on our part, as only the first day of the festival takes place in August. The remaining ten days occur in September. However, we decided to push off from the opening day. Even more so considering this date is the last in the Summer calendar!
Cyprus is one of the birthplaces of wine. The traditions of manufacturing this drink go back millennia on the island. Therefore, unlike beer, Cyprus knows how to make wine both well and in different ways. To any taste. For this reason, the Limassol festival is one of the most important and popular events of the year.
The event occurs in Limassol Municipal Park, gathering around 15 thousand guests annually. You pay for a ticket and glass at the entrance. Technically, you don’t have to pay for the latter, but then what would be the point?
You can pour absolutely as much wine as your heart desires into your glass. The older, matured wines are poured in drops to the bottom, while the younger sorts are filled to the brim and poured from huge cisterns. The amount is enough for each of the 15 thousand gathered.
The festival is scripted every year: right at the entrance, there is a stage with songs and dances. Wine and souvenirs are spread out along the alleyways. In the very middle, Cypriots in national dress traditionally press on grapes in bare feet, accompanied by vibrant live music. Anyone who wishes can take their shoes off and give it a try.
Meanwhile, in the far corners of the park, food zones have been set up, where you can eat hot meat and other traditional Cypriot food.
Interestingly, despite the unlimited consumption — it’s almost impossible to come across any guests drunk off their trollies. Cypriot wines are not considered to make you drunk, but to make you happy. This is easy to believe, taking into account the genuine joy and smiles on the faces of the festival’s guests.
September
In September, Summer still isn’t thinking of leaving Cyprus. It’s all the same heat, the same warm, gentle sea. But even if the weather might be favourable, the holidays are still ending, and the tourists have to go back. Due to this, the beaches empty and the prices in the tourist zones fall. The Autumn season begins.
In September, no events of particular significance happen in Limassol. However, all the same, there are still a couple of cosy holidays.
For instance, the pasteli festival in Anogyra village. Cypriot pasteli is so unique that it has a personal festival which takes place, I’d say, in the main pasteli village on the island. Firstly this is the only place where the delicacy continues to be made in the traditional method — by hand. Secondly, Anogira has the only pasteli museum in Cyprus.
The main difference between the Cypriot version and its Asian counterparts is that the base is made from the fruits of the carob tree. You’ll find it hard to try this anywhere else.
Plus, there’s a whole festival dedicated to this one product, where you can let yourself loose and taste everything on offer, as they say, to your heart’s content. But there’s not just one single pasteli. At the festival, you can try almost everything which the Cypriots have thought to make from carob. And, as always, naturally, there will be traditional dancing, music, outdoor parties and merriment. A lovely good village festival. We recommend a visit.
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Another similar festival, dedicated to Cypriot sweets, takes place in several villages all at once, near Limassol. We recommend going to either Arsos or Vouni. This time they will be paying tribute to the palouze — essentially a Cypriot Churchkhela (a Georgian, candle-shaped candy). In contrast to what we’re used to seeing in Russia, the main difference is that palouze contains far more juice. Thanks to this, the local palouze isn’t wavy, but more like a thick sausage. The festival is an excellent reason to drive to the mountains with the family, fill yourself up on sweets and have fun together with the locals.
October
This is definitely the best month of the year. Summer has already taken a step back, but it’s not in any hurry to leave. The stuffiness has subsided, but it’s still warm. If you’re sick of the summer warmth, then the majestic Troodos Mountains lie 50 kilometres from Limassol, where it’s crisp and fresh in October.
The tourists are no more, and the beaches are empty, but the water is still warm. You can go for a peaceful stroll along the promenade, not having to squeeze your way through streams of human masses. Plus, October is the month for fruit. And at this superb time, a rather bold apple festival is held in the village of Kyperounda.
As the apple capital of Cyprus, Kyperounda is literally surrounded from all sides with apple orchards, stretching out tens of kilometres. A third of all apples in Cyprus are grown here. Located at a height of 1100 metres above sea level, its one of the highest, most abundant and most densely-populated villages in Cyprus. It is for this reason that the Apple Festival takes place here. With the zeal it deserves.
Take care of your stomachs! You’ll have to eat a lot — apple pies, juice, strong drinks, sweets and of course, apples of excellent quality and of all possible types. But you should pay special attention to the pies. They’re superb here, and there’s even a contest for the tastiest pie at the festival.
The entertainment component of the festival is represented by a multitude of exhibitions on subjects close to apples, as well as, naturally, stirring Cypriot folklore groups.
And of course what would October be without Halloween? Let's not forget that Cyprus wasn't all too long ago a British colony; therefore, festivals popular in England are also highly regarded here.
Let's begin with how it seems as though at the end of October, the entire industry is working for Halloween. In need of any sort of costumes, accessories, dishes or food? You'll have more trouble not finding them! There’s a giant assortment on offer, catering to any taste or fantasy and for all prices. The main job for getting people in the Halloween mood is taken on by the supermarket chain Jumbo, who set aside massive squares for the festival environment.
All Saints Day is celebrated, by and large, like a force of nature — spontaneous and chaotic. The city folk decorate their homes with all manner of evil spirits, place pumpkin candles, dress up in scary outfits, go out and happily celebrate at the table with friends. Practically every night club offers its own “horror” party.
However, there’s also a place for organised events. The central spot for celebrating Halloween recently became the Trakasol cultural centre near the Marina. It first and foremost makes sense to go there with kids. A whole mass of entertainments has been set up for them — from witches’ buffets to cunning master classes. Adults can also listen to music, soak up the “sinister” atmosphere, drink glint vein or a Bloody Mary.
November
The final month of Autumn in Cyprus is stunning, the air temperature has reached its utmost level of comfort, there’s still enough sun, and the sea offers one last dip for those who wish. It's noticeably cool in the Troodos. Mushrooms are sprouting in the forest.
What festival is appropriate for such a time of year? One that warms you up, of course! And we’re heading to the mountain village of Pelendri for the Zivania Festival.
If by chance, you’re still not in the know, zivania is a Cypriot home-made wine brew. Only a product manufactured on the island can be named Zivania, with one of the nearest equivalents in Russia being chacha wine. It has that same light taste and dangerous intoxication which hits you later. Zivania also matches in strength. From 45 to 70 per cent.
As you’ve already managed to work out, there are no festivals in Cyprus where you won’t be able to fill your stomach with an abundance of traditional dishes. Naturally, our festival is no exception. Come along with an empty stomach, and earlier at that, to find a free parking spot.
Aside from the deliciously-smelling Cypriot dishes, as well as, zivania itself, which you can have a taste of for free, the festival may offer you the chance to witness the secrets of homebrewing in real life. You can also have a dance (what would zivania be without dancing?) and visit the theatrical performances and exhibitions, which are a hot favourite of the Cypriots. Besides, you’ll have the opportunity to imbue yourself with Cypriot culture: the doors of the local churches and museums are open to all.
December
Well, our joyous festival year is gradually coming to an end. Nature is getting ready for the winter quiet. The air temperature has already dropped rather low, and a cold wind is blowing. The sea temperature is also falling, yet not as much as in the air. For this reason, in the morning, when walking on the Limassol promenade, you can still encounter several reckless daredevils cleaving through the waves with their paddles.
A Limassol December is quiet and empty. There are no tourists. Many of the locals have even gone their separate ways to hibernate somewhere. The year is ending… but wait, hang on! Before concluding, we need to make a note of one significant festival — Christmas!
Though Cypriots are Orthodox, it is still commonly accepted to celebrate Christmas together with the Catholics — on the same dates. And like everywhere in Europe, this is one of the main events of the year (perhaps the only event approached with more enthusiasm is the Carnival).
The Christmas festivities begin from the first of December, when the main Christmas tree on Grigori Akxentiou square lights up, lasting till the culminating moment of the holidays.
There are two main places to celebrate in Cyprus, the first being the old port, where the Christmas fair is held.
Even in usual times, the old port looks like something out of a Christmas fairy tale. But on these days — you could cry at how stunning it is.
You’ll be able to get Christmas gingerbread at the fair, as well as biscuits and sweets. There’s also mulled wine or hot chocolate to drink. You can ride on the Santa train, feast your eyes on the decorations and let the magical mood seep right through you.
The second spot is the main street in Limassol, with a rather hard-hitting name — Anexartisias street. It’s made fully pedestrianised for some days and also has the main Christmas tree. The street traders sell mini doughnuts made there-and-then, hot chestnuts and other Christmas treats.
But these aren’t the only two places you can see in Christmas. Santa travels around the whole city for the entirety of December, ringing his little bells and bringing joy to the kids. The city’s tremendous crossroads are decorated with figures of The Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, and festive lanterns illuminate the windows of homes. Shops traditionally have sales on over the festive period. The whole city is steeped in Christmas!
When all has been said, the main festive event doesn’t occur on the square or at the port. It takes place at home, in the comfort of your loved ones. Cypriots are incredibly passionate about family and family traditions, so during the celebratory Christmas dinner, there isn’t a soul on the street.
After the 25th, the festive atmosphere is preserved right up to the 1st of January, when New Year takes place. But you’ve already covered that.
As you’ve noticed, only in Limassol and its vicinity will you find some sort of annual holiday or festival every month! Indeed, there is still Larnaca, Paphos and Nicosia, which have their own unique celebrations. Cyprus is one of the leading figures in the EU rankings for the highest number of festivals. So if you’re going to the island of Aphrodite — prepare yourselves! Wherever you go, fun and festivities await.
Welcome to the Holidays!
