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.
