On 1 April, Cyprus commemorated the national liberation struggle from 1955 to 1959. This day was an official holiday, and solemn events took place in all parts of the country.

At 10:00 a.m., a solemn service was held in the Church of St. Barnabas in Nicosia. President Nikos Christodoulides took part. The Member of the European Parliament, Costas Mavrides, also gave a speech.

At 11:00 a.m., the president visited the prisoners' memorial. Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus said a Trisagion prayer at the graves of the heroes. This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony. Parliament President Annita Demetriou was also present at the commemoration.

At 16:00, the President and the Speaker of Parliament took part in an event entitled "70 Years of EOKA – 70 Years of Unbroken Light". This was organized by the Historical Remembrance Committee EOKA, the Fighters' Association and the Foundation for the Liberation Struggle and took place in the Tassos-Papadopoulos-Eleftheria Hall.

Parades and ceremonies were also held in other cities and towns in Cyprus, attended by ministers and government officials. Minister of Labour Giannis Panayiotou attended a ceremony in the church of St. George in Agios Dometios (Nicosia).

The Secretary of State for Shipping, Marina Chatzimandali, was at the Church of St. Nicholas in Limassol at 10:00. In Larnaca, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, attended the celebration at the Church of St. Lazarus at 10:00 a.m.

In Paphos, Secretary of State for Tourism, Costas Kumis, was present at the ceremony in the Metropolis of Saint Theodoros at 10:00 a.m. Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas represented the government at 9:30 a.m. at the ceremony in the Metropolis of Saint George in Paralimni.

In Ayia Napa, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou attended a celebration at 9:30 a.m. at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the municipality of Sotira. Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry Georgios Papanastasiou represented the government at 10:00 a.m. in the Church of St. George in Pano Deftera (Metropolis of Tamasos and Orini).

In Paphos, government spokesman Constantinos Letimbiotis gave a speech at a memorial event for the teachers' movement "Peremena" at the Lyceum Ethnarch Makarios III.

January 1st: New Year's
gifts are exchanged and the wasilopitta (king cake) is cut.

6 January: Epiphany
Feast of the Consecration of Water and the Baptism of Jesus, celebrated especially in the coastal towns. After the service, a procession moves to the sea, where the priest throws a cross into the water. Young men dive for it, whoever lifts the cross back up will be lucky in the coming year.

Green Monday
50 days before Orthodox Easter (our "Rose Monday")

25 March: Greek Independence Day
Official start of the Greek liberation struggle against the Turks in 1821

1 April: Greek Cypriot National Day
Official start of the Cypriot struggle for freedom against the British in 1955. Also a day of remembrance in honor of the resistance organization EOKA, which first fought against the British and then against the Turkish Cypriots. On this day, the Greek students are not supposed to wear a red T-shirt, because red is the color of Turkey.

Good Friday
In the late morning, the "epitapios", the symbolic tomb of Christ, is decorated with flowers in the churches. At the evening service, the faithful then kiss the epitaph, which is carried in a solemn procession through the village at around 9 p.m.

Easter Saturday
In the night from Easter Saturday to Sunday, Easter services take place at eleven o'clock in all Cypriot churches, during which all lights are extinguished as a symbol of the death of Christ at midnight. In complete darkness, the priest then announces the resurrection to his congregation before lighting another candle at the altar. All the faithful have brought candles with them, which they now light one after the other on the altar candle to express their faith in the resurrection.

Easter Sunday
The Cypriots sit together and barbecue. Especially in the region around Páfos, Easter games such as donkey races, sack races or egg races take place in many places (strangers are welcome to join in). Easter is the most important holiday in the Orthodox world.

1 May
Labour

Day

15 August
Kimesis (Dormition of the Virgin Mary)

1 October Cyprus
Independence Day

28 October
Greek National Day. It commemorates the "Great Historic No", which in 1940 the Greek dictator Metaxas responded to an ultimatum from Mussolini and meant Greece's entry into the Second World War.

December 25/26 – Christmas
As a symbol of purity, olive branches hang above the house entrance.







Author: Tom Weyerman
Sources: Zypern.de