{"id":1063,"date":"2023-06-05T16:13:47","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T15:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/?p=1063"},"modified":"2023-06-05T16:13:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T15:13:49","slug":"a-guide-to-some-traditional-cypriot-customs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/a-guide-to-some-traditional-cypriot-customs\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Some Traditional Cypriot Customs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cyprus is one of the most popular destinations for British expats; more than 70,000 people who used to live in the UK have now made this Mediterranean island their home. English is one of the country\u2019s main languages, alongside Greek and Turkish, and it\u2019s also a comparatively cheap place to live.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are one or two aspects of life which may take you by surprise if you are considering international removals to Cyprus. Here Hamiltons Removals outline a few customs and traditions which any new Cypriots should be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weddings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are involved in, or invited to, a Cypriot wedding there will be some aspects which will be familiar \u2013 and plenty which are not. For instance, the couple wear red scarves (a symbol of virginity and fertility) and wear crowns as a symbol of God\u2019s blessing. During the ceremony, rice is tossed at the couple, again as a sign of fertility. However, the couple still exchange vows and rings, and the bride tosses away her bouquet towards unmarried girls and women after the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The practice of throwing either knives or plates, both of which were imported from Greek culture and formed part of the wedding reception, has now largely died out on safety grounds. Instead, visitors or guests are more likely to throw flowers instead – which are far less likely to cause any damage or injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name Days<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birthday celebrations in Cyprus are kept comparatively low-key. Of far greater importance are the Name Days, which relate to the patron saint of any particular region. Anyone with the name Costantinos, Costas, Dino, Costantia or Tina will celebrate St Constantine\u2019s Day, while Elenas and Elenis can look forward to St Helena\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone with the exact name or any of its variants can look forward to either a barbecue or a buffet at their house, along with plenty of singing, dancing and drinking.  Invitations are not traditionally given to join the celebrations \u2013 friends, family and neighbours are just expected to visit. This tradition also has its roots in the Greek Orthodox Church and it extends to whole neighbourhoods where the parish church shares its name with a saint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carnival<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is celebrated in late February or early March and is in honour of Dionysus, the God of Feasts and Good Cheer. For ten days, there are feasts, fancy-dress parties, street parades (usually on the first day) and everyone is in a festive mood. For anyone considering removals to Limassol, the celebrations in the city (pictured above) are generally believed to be the liveliest and the most entertaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This celebration is longer and more varied than its UK equivalent. It lasts for five days, not four, and is preceded by 50 days of fasting during Lent (usually this starts as soon as the carnival events have come to an end). The country takes its fasting very seriously, with meat, fish and dairy products all banned in the seven weeks before Easter. Most shops and businesses are shut for the whole five days, and on Easter Saturday many Greek Orthodox Cypriots head to church for the midnight sermon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the service, candles and bonfires are lit and firecrackers let off all round the island; this signifies the end of the fasting period. On Easter Sunday families celebrate with feasting, singing and dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Easter, this is the second most important festival in the Cypriot calendar. It\u2019s less commercialised than it is in the UK and it is very much focused on the family. Christmas carol singing and leaving cookies and milk out for Santa Claus are both common traditions here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also plenty of special food made for the festive season, including Christopsomo (a soft, sweet bread which translates as \u2018The Bread of Christ\u2019 and is meant to be shared by hand, not cut), melomakarona (cinnamon and orange cookies, glazed in honey syrup and covered with nuts), and kourabiedes (almond biscuits coated with icing sugar).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Removals to Cyprus with Hamiltons Removals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We provide shipping and removals to all areas of Cyprus, including Limassol, Kyrenia, Larnaca and Nicosia. Our service can include full packing and unpacking or just the shipping of your belongings, where we offer either a dedicated container for your sole use, or a groupage service where you will share the container with other people\u2019s possessions. We cater for commercial as well as domestic moves, and are highly experienced in moving specialist items, pets and cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like to know more about our international removals to Cyprus, follow this link<\/a> or call us on 01379 855203.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cyprus is one of the most popular destinations for British expats; more than 70,000 people who used to live in the UK have now made this Mediterranean island their home. English is one of the country\u2019s main languages, alongside Greek and Turkish, and it\u2019s also a comparatively cheap place to live.\u00a0 However, there are one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nInternational Removals to Cyprus | Key Cypriot Customs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"International Removals to Cyprus \u2013 Hamiltons Removals, who can help anyone moving house to Cyprus, outline some of the country\u2019s traditions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hamiltonsremovals.co.uk\/news\/a-guide-to-some-traditional-cypriot-customs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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