| Festival celebrations take place
throughout the year both at Agios Tychonas and Limassol.
They reflect the culture and customs of Cyprus, as well
as the religious, historical and agricultural traditions
of the area. Cyprus, and particularly
the Agios Tychonas area, is a place where celebrations
are a regular part of life.
In chronological order, here are the
main celebrations:
The Carnival
In the springtime, the rebirth of nature and its metamorphosis
into a beautiful flowery bed brings with it the carnival…
The Carnival lasts for two fun filled weeks, with masquerade
parties lasting throughout the night finally culminating
in a grand parade through the central streets of the
city, watched by thousands of people.
Holy Spirit Day
Holy Spirit Day coincides with Pentecost. Both are popular
religious celebrations. The centre of festivities in
the area is Limassol where various summer games are
organized.
Green Monday
Its roots originate in the ancient festival of the wine
God Dionysus, signifying the start of the Christian
Orthodox Pentecost marking fifty days before Easter.
Green Monday is always the first day immediately following
the Carnival parade. People celebrate by picnicking
with friends and family in the fields, eating vegetarian
salads with plenty of wine. Kite flying is island wide.
Easter
In Cyprus, Easter is the holiest celebration of the
year. Festivities include the symbolic litany of the
body of Christ on Holy Friday, while Saturday evening
celebrates the resurrection of Christ in a traditional
midnight service with candles and expressions of ‘Christos
Anesti’ which means ‘Christ lives.’ Traditionally, young
people light a bonfire at the churchyard to signify
the burning of Judas.
On Easter Sunday, following the liturgy,
three days of events in the central Agios Tychonas square
follow, including dancing and traditional games. Lamb,
prepared locally as ‘souvla’ on the charcoal, is eaten
in abundance and family and friendship are celebrated
as Easter rekindles the rebirth of the human spirit.
Flower Festival
May is the month of flowers. In recognition, all the
major municipalities organize flower festivals. Similar
to the Carnival, the community of Agios Tychonas takes
an active part in these festivities, organized primarily
by the municipality of Yermasoyia and the surrounding
municipalities and community boards. Dozens of beautiful
floats decorated with an array of spring flowers, parade
through the cities with thousands taking part dressed
in colorful costumes.
Amathusia
One of the major cultural events in Cyprus, Amathusia
is organized in ancient Amathus. The three day celebration
takes place at either the end of June or early July.
Included are impressive theatre performances, operas,
concerts and dance troupes from Cyprus and Greece.
As a once prosperous spiritual centre,
the Amathusia celebrates the culture and civilization
of the island.
The Wine Festival
The Wine Festival is organized in Limassol every September
and lasts for 12 days. Limassol organizes this major
event, being the centre of the islands’ wine industries
and offers both visitors and locals unlimited quantities
and varieties of wine, music and dancing till the early
hours. Over a hundred thousand people attend the wine
festival every year making it one of the most anticipated
events of the year.
Christmas
In early December the Agios Tychonas seafront is festively
decorated in the spirit of Christmas. To match the uplifted
mood during Christmas and New Year the village Community
Board organize a variety of events.
The celebrations in Agios Tychonas
are very welcoming and impressive, including Epiphany
Day, during which after the Liturgy, priests lead a
procession out to the sea, where they bless and sanctify
the waters with the submerging of the Holy Cross.
Other Events
In the long list of Agios Tychonas cultural events there
are additionally those organized every weekend at the
ancient Amathus market and the open theatre Onisillos
which include music and theatre performances. Each year
on the 12th of July, the Agios Tychonas Community Board
also organizes an International cross country five kilometer
race which encourages the participation of both visitors
and locals. One of the most original ideas is the celebration
on the four days of the year where day and night are
equally shared, on the 21st of March, the 21st of June,
the 23rd of September and the 22nd of December. Celebrations
take place at six in the morning at the Acropolis of
ancient Amathus.
|