February

Carnival

Carnival is a two-week period of fun and good eating, fifty days before Easter. The first week is called the “Meat Week”, as it is the last week for eating meat before Easter. The second week is known as the ‘Cheese Week’, when cheese and other dairy products maybe eaten.

Carnival festivities begin on the Thursday of the Meat Week. The last Sunday of the Cheese Week is the highlight of the Carnival. Parties are held and people gather to feast, sing satirical songs and play games. Many wear masks and fancy dress. Carnival parades and fancy-dress balls are very popular and take place in most towns. Limassol is best known for its Carnival Festivities, and this is where most parties and balls take place.

Limassol marks the beginning of its Carnival with the arrival of King Carnival. From that day until the end of the Carnival, fancy dress balls are held every night in many hotels and night-clubs.

On the first Sunday of the Carnival, a huge fancy dress children’s parade takes place along the seafront. Celebrations end with the Grand Carnival parade through the main streets of Limassol on Sunday.