January

New Year’s Day-January 1st 

Celebrations start on New Year’s Eve when the traditional family cake called Vasilopitta, in which a coin is hidden, is baked. The head of the family cuts the cake on New Year’s Day when the family gathers. One slice of the cake is cut for Jesus Christ, one for the house and one for absent family members. The person who finds the coin is considered to be the luckiest member of the family for the year to come.

On New Year’s Eve, children go from house to house singing carols. In the villages, families gather round the fire in the evening and play a game with olive leaves. The game is supposed to foretell the future and is therefore especially popular with young singles. In Cyprus, it is at New Year, rather than at Christmas, that most people give and receive presents. New Year’s Day is the ‘name day’ of Ayios Vasilis, Saint Basil. So it is on New Year’s Eve that Ayios Vasilis is believed to visit each house, blessing the people and bringing presents to the children.

According to popular belief, whatever a person does on New Year’s Day, he will continue to do throughout the year.
Special festivities are organised in all leading hotels, night-clubs and in individuals’ homes on these days.

Epiphany-January 6th 

Epiphany is one of the most important Greek Orthodox religious celebrations of the year. It is the only occasion during which the Sanctity of the Holy Trinity, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) appear together. It is also known as the “Feast of the Light,” on this day Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, symbolising the spiritual rebirth of man. On the eve of Epiphany, known as “kalanda”, people gather in church to bless the water, which is supposed to have held evil spirits for the previous twelve days. After Mass, the priest visits every house to cleanse it from the evil spirits, known as kalikandjiari.

According to Cypriot tradition, these demons appear on Christmas Day, and for the next 12 days play evil tricks on people. On the eve of their departure, housewives throw pancakes and sausages on their roofs, where the demons are believed to live, so that they will leave contented and will not cause any more trouble. 

At Epiphany, a special celebration takes place at all seaside towns. After the Epiphany Mass the Archbishop, or one of the Bishops, leads a procession down to the sea where a ceremonial baptism is performed. During the ceremony the leading priest throws the holy Cross into the sea. Young men dive into the water to retrieve the cross and return it to the priest.