Colors of Nicosia - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Residents of Nicosia are characterized by a very friendly and welcoming character - every traveler will feel like a long-awaited guest here. A large part of traditions and habits that find manifestation in their everyday life was inherited from the Greeks. Many culinary traditions traditional for Greece are widespread here, and religious holidays are of great importance for local people. They are always celebrated on a grand scale. Very interesting traditions are associated with the annual celebration of Pentecost. On this holy day, the townspeople honor the water element, which is associated with historically established crafts and activities. It is customary to pour water over each other, so when going for a walk around the city at this time, Nicosia residents don’t wear expensive clothes and jewelry. In celebration of Pentecost, they also arrange various competitions on the sea.

One of the largest and most significant religious holidays for locals is Easter, preparations for which take several weeks. Solemn services are held in all city churches, followed by a series of entertainment programs. On the city streets, they organize musical and folk performances, fairs, and interesting competitions. It'd be interesting to visit Nicosia for Christmas holidays, as it is accompanied by lots of interesting local traditions. For this holiday, it is customary to buy new clothes and shoes. By a happy coincidence, in the pre-Christmas period, local shopping centers hold a series of annual sales. Before the holiday, townspeople clean their homes thoroughly and bake traditional Christmas bread.

The traditions of some local holidays have remained unchanged since antiquity. A vivid example is annual wine festivals, which usually take place in the first half of autumn. During this period, people honor the god of winemaking Dionysos and hold lush celebrations to win his favor. A month and a half before Easter, the city holds a traditional carnival whose history goes back to ancient times. Before the beginning of Lent, it is customary to arrange magnificent festivities accompanied by a gastronomic component. Colorful costumed processions became another essential part of the carnival - absolutely everyone is invited to participate. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Apart from beautiful religious and ancient holidays, Nicosia boasts some original modern festivals, which found their place in the cultural calendar. Most of them are held in the summer. The annual city festival starts in the first half of July and continues until the end of August. Open-air concert venues are set up specifically for the festival. Faneromeni Square becomes the venue for some of the most interesting shows. Here they hold musical and dance performances with the participation of local folk groups and musicians from other countries of the world.

Within the framework of the festival, Nicosia's guests can attend exciting theatrical performances and enjoy original entertainment programs for children. The festival's rich cultural program is complemented by gastronomic events and colorful fairs. In summer, tourists can taste the best dishes of Cypriot cuisine at open cafes located right on city streets and squares. At fairs, visitors are offered to buy original handmade crafts, luxurious jewelry made from natural stones and precious metals, as well as works of art by local artists.

Beer lovers would be happy to visit Nicosia in the first half of September when the annual Beer Festival is held in the city. For townspeople, beer is as popular as wine and can be tasted at every restaurant and cafe. During the festival, the main entertainments are tastings of various beer brewed at local factories, as well as the best traditional dishes. Take a break from beer parties at concert venues - music concerts are organized every day. In recent years, rock bands from various countries and folk music performers have been actively participating in the beer festival. Nicosia will be a wonderful destination for those who like interesting festivals and try to get acquainted with the traditions of a new country they are visiting.