Religious Festivals

Last Updated on Monday, 31 October 2011 11:38

Written by Administrator

GREEN MONDAY

Green Monday, early in March, is a bank holiday. This is one of the main Cypriot festivals. Everyone seems to return to their home village for family gatherings and there are huge, fabulous vegetarian feasts and picnics with kite flying. The food excludes meat, fish and anything dairy, but oddly allows shellfish and octopus.

Green Monday – or Clean Monday – is the Greek Orthodox first day of Lent. The “Clean” tag does not come from the fact that houses are spring-cleaned from top to bottom. It comes from the church service the previous evening when the congregation asks for forgiveness all round.

The kite flying can be problematic. If you lose your electricity supply on Green Monday it is probably someone’s kite entangled in the electricity lines…

EASTER in PISSOURI

The 2 weeks of Easter are the most important of the year for Cypriot members of the Village community, who see Easter much as the British see the Christmas season. These are the high spots of the Greek Orthodox Christian year.

EASTER EGGS

Easter eggs, which are an important part of the Easter tradition and, of course, mean most to the children. The Easter egg is associated with ancient beliefs. According to the Greek Orthodox belief the egg is a symbol of the Resurrection, representing the emergence of Christ from His tomb to everlasting life. There are many different beliefs about Easter eggs. For many the albumen or egg white symbolizes the tomb in which Christ lay. The yolk with its bright yellow colour is seen as Christ rising. Another symbol of the eggs is that the egg white is seen as earth and the yolk as heaven. The process of preparing the eggs is simple. The eggs are boiled until they are hard and can be painted with different colours and patterns. The most common colour is red, representing the blood of Christ. Traditionally rizari, a root which could be bought at the market, or beetroot, have been used to dye the eggs red. Onion skins or yellow crown daisies can be used for yellow. Nowadays, of course, there are a wide range of modern alternatives. Great Thursday is the traditional Easter egg day in Pissouri. After the eggs are prepared the fun begins. Each family member or friend takes an egg and gently taps a partner’s egg. The owner of the egg that lasts longest (“the undefeated egg”) wins.

KATAKLYSMOS

The Greek Orthodox celebration of Kataklysmos is early in June. Although Pentecost is a universal Christian celebration, the Greek Kataklysmos is found only in Cyprus. It is the celebration of the Holy Spirit descending and bestowing the gift of “tongues” on the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. 50 days after the ascent of Jesus to Heaven, 11 disciples, the Virgin Mary and 120 others, including some of the apostles, had gathered at a house in Jerusalem where they had been instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit. They then heard “a rushing mighty wind”* from the sky and the Holy Spirit appeared above and enveloped them with tongues of fire, and they were enlightened, and began to speak in every language and dialect. At the time, everyone from the different areas around Jerusalem was in town to celebrate the harvest. When they heard what was going on, they ran to the house where Jesus’s followers were and were surprised to hear everyone speaking to everyone else in every language. Some of them even thought they were drunk. Then St Peter spoke, and told them everything was well, and 3000 people believed and became Christians.

The Cyprus Kataklysmos celebration and its water connection is exclusively Cypriot. So, if someone douses you with water on Kataklysmos Monday, accept it as a compliment and part of the national celebration.

*Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2.

From Contact 77:

The Cyprus festival of Kataklysmos, which probably has pagan origins, is roughly equivalent to Pentecost. There will be festivals in the major seaside towns – the one in Limassol is particularly popular - and there will be festivities on both Sunday 23rd and Holiday Monday 24th May. Full details at http://www.limassoltourism.com/?pageid=159

THE FESTIVAL OF APOSTOLOS ANDREAS
September

The Saint’s Icon processess around the Village on the Saturday evening of this very important Pissouri religious festival, usually accompanied by a band and a Navy troop. The festival finishes at midnight on Sunday.

This festival, which is called “Panaiyiri” in the Village, celebrates the consecration of the main Church of the Village, Apostolos Andreas. Only a few decades ago people could not travel outside Pissouri easily, so the arrival of the sellers of things as simple as new cloth was an eagerly anticipated highlight of the year. When the vineyards were also new in Pissouri, the Village did not have the traditions that went with the vines, and sousouko (almonds dipped in grape juice) was a great treat to be bought at the fair. People also sold gold…. These sellers must have criss-crossed the country, following the festivals in different villages, a huge excitement then.

This is a major celebration in the Village with associated activities and stalls in the Square.

Note: For much of the time of the festival Apostolos Andreas, the main street through the Village and past the church, will be one-way (from the Internet Cafe).

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