If you want to hear the latest news from Cyprus, whether it’s good, bad or just an interesting fact about what’s happening on the island, then tune in to our weekly news blog. The team at Cyprus Property World will be scanning the most authoritative English-language newspapers and websites, such as the Cyprus Mail and the Financial Mirror and the Cyprus News Agency to keep you in touch with what’s going on. It won’t just be property news, but any kind of news for those interested in Cyprus. If you’d like to comment, feel free to Contact Us, we’d love to hear from you.

                                                 Christmas in Cyprus

If you’re thinking of spending Christmas in Cyprus, you may be wondering what it’s like and whether it has any special Christmas traditions. A 21st century Cypriot Christmas is full of wonderful things, many of them familiar to non-Cypriots, such as turkey, Santa Claus and special sweet treats and cake, although Cypriots have their own unique take on them.

Christmas in Cyprus begins on 6th December, the feast of St. Nicholas, and lasts until Epiphany on 6th January. On Christmas Eve, beautiful old Cypriot carols, called ‘kalanda’ are sung by children and some rather strange Christmas elves, known as ‘Kalikatzaroi’ make mischief during the 12 days of Christmas. This is an old Greek tradition and some Cypriots keep a fire burning day and night to ward off these ‘demons’ while others sprinkle holy water around their homes.

The main big difference between the Christmas you may be used to and a Cypriot Christmas is that Santa Claus – who is called ‘Ayios Vasilis’ in Greek – brings his presents on New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas Eve.  For those who love eating there is Santa Claus cake – called ‘Vasilopitta’, which is cut on the first day of the New Year – and Greek and Cypriot cookies, called ‘melomakarona’ and ‘kourabiedes’. If you’re lucky enough to be in Cyprus at Christmas time, make sure you try some!

From all of us at Cyprus Property World, here’s wishing you all

                         Kala Xristougenna kai Eutikhismeno to Neo Etos!

                                 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Author: Anne Hall