Among other religious holidays that are widely celebrated in the city, it is worth noting Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. The holiday is of special importance for townspeople because St. Lazarus is considered the patron saint of Larnaca, and its most significant religious landmark is the Cathedral of St. Lazarus (Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Λαζάρου). It is here that solemn divine services take place, olive and palm branches are brought here to the tomb of the saint. It is believed that St. Lazarus lived in Larnaca (or rather, in Kition, as the city was once called) for thirty years after his resurrection. On the holiday dedicated to him, local people bake sweet spice breads “Lazarakia” and decorate their houses and streets with flowers of symbolic significance - gladioli and yellow daisies.
Among other widely celebrated holidays are the Epiphany festival that falls on January 6, Green Monday (the first day of Great Lent), Good Friday, and, of course, Christmas. National holidays of Cyprus celebrated in Larnaca include April 1 dedicated to the struggle of the Greek Cypriots against the British Empire, October 1, Cyprus Independence Day, and October 28, Ohi Day commemorating the resistance of Greek Cypriots to the Nazi regime in 1940. All the public holidays involve military parades and musical performances. It's hard to imagine any celebration without street parities and public festivities. The most widely celebrated holiday is Independence Day that falls on the 1st of October. Greece is honored in Larnaca, people don't forget about their close relationships with the country, so on March 25, they traditionally celebrate Greek National Day.
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