How do you live in Cyprus?

Two thirds of the people in Cyprus live in their own house. Typical of Cypriot society is an important position for women. Young women are often given their own house by their parents into the marriage.

Many houses have a water tank with a solar system on the roof. Then there is the normal water pipe. So there are two taps at the end, one for the municipal water supply and one for the private one. Depending on which tap the water flows from, it is also used differently.

The water from the tank is used for showering, cleaning and washing and that from the tap is used for cooking. And what water do people drink? Drinking water is almost always bought separately in bottles or canisters. They say that you can drink the water from the tap, but since a lot of chlorine is always added here, many people do without it.

Children and School

Do the children go to school in Cyprus?

Cyprus has a preschool for children between the ages of three and six. It is now mandatory to attend this school for at least one year. This is followed by a primary school for children aged five to twelve and an upper level that lasts another six years. Children up to the age of 15 have to go to school. The school does not cost anything, by the way, the children in the Turkish north are also allowed to attend a school in the Greek south and do not have to pay anything.

Many parents send their children to private schools in Cyprus. There are also many international schools, schools that are funded by other countries. Cyprus also has several universities to offer.

Festivals and Traditions

1000 guests at a wedding

The Cypriots love to party. The most important celebrations include weddings and baptisms. It’s not uncommon for 1000 people to show up at a wedding and want to be entertained. This could get expensive. But the Cypriots are resourceful and there is a custom that you simply attach a few banknotes to the bride’s dress at a wedding party. Something can come together. Nobody wants to appear stingy here.

Church festivals and carnivals

The traditional church festivals – of which there are quite a few in Cyprus – are very popular. You eat, drink, make music and dance. These include the parish celebrations, which we often still have in the small villages. Here people meet on the market square or somewhere in the great outdoors. After the service there is usually a procession.

Almost like in Rio

According to shopareview, 50 days before Easter is time for Carnival, also a festival that Cypriots like to celebrate. It’s pretty colorful here. People dress up and especially the carnival in the city of Limassol is famous. It is said to have something from the famous carnival in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

Saint St. Lazarus

An important holiday in Cyprus is the day of Saint Lazarus on the Saturday one week before Easter. There is a great procession on this day. And a highlight of the church year is Easter Sunday. Almost all believers come to church here and hold a candle in their hand.

Wet spraying allowed!

A festival where children especially have fun is the Kataklysmós, which literally means something like “showering”. This festival takes place on Pentecost. Here not only the children but also the adults shower themselves with water and shoot at each other with water pistols. This festival is intended to commemorate the Flood. But it also goes back to antiquity, here the beginning of spring was also celebrated by pouring water over oneself.

Christmas in Cyprus

Anyone visiting Cyprus in the run-up to Christmas will be reminded of the upcoming Christmas festival again and again. Cribs with life-size figures, Christmas markets with all sorts of delicacies and real Christmas trees set the mood. But not everyone can afford such a tree. Many a plastic tree is in the apartment and is rebuilt every year.

The tree and many a tradition go to Otto III. who once ruled over Greece (compare history and politics). The English reportedly brought the Christmas tree to Cyprus.

In Cyprus, people go to church on December 25th and have a meal afterwards. At first you don’t give yourself anything like we do, but only on January 1st. But this custom is changing, so that meanwhile some people give each other gifts on December 24th or 25th. Friends and relatives visit each other and celebrate together. This always includes good and rich food.

It is a special custom that the children go from house to house around Christmas time, singing songs and being rewarded for it. After Christmas until January 5th, the children have to be careful because that is the time of the goblins who want to be appeased. How does it work? Small pieces of dough are placed on the roofs to please the goblins.