Cyprus-Forum.com

[chris4ray]

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Can anyone advise on the best place to be on Easter Sunday to appreciate local celebrations

[Tim Drayton]

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Can anyone advise on the best place to be on Easter Sunday to appreciate local celebrations

Easter Sunday in Cyprus seems very much to be a family affair. People attend the church service and then spend time together as a family. You may not really notice much going on as an outsider apart from the fact that the shops are shut and there is little traffic on the streets. It's a bit like Christmas day in the UK, really.
If you wanted to witness an outward display of celebration, you should have come for the Carnival, and I am afraid you have just missed it.
I hope you aware that the Orthodox Easter day is April 27.

[chris4ray]

Thanks Tim, yes I am aware that Easter Sunday is the 27th April and we will be arriving on the 26th. Staying in Tala for 11 nights so maybe we will see some local activities!

[Tim Drayton]

I live in the city, but I spoke to my mother who lived for a long time in a small, traditional village in the Limassol district. She says it is on Easter Monday that the villages organise collective festivities, with a barbecue and various games and activities. She says that usually everyone in the village who wishes to attend pays a contribution in advance to meet the costs. She is not sure if outsiders who suddenly turn up unannounced would be welcome or not. It might be worth having a word with the village mukhtar the previous week, if you are able to do so, and explain that you would like to come along to the Easer Monday festivities and wish to pay your contribution.
Frankly, I have no idea where Tala is. If there are hotels there and they are used to having tourists around then things probably work very differently.

[Tim Drayton]

I have just googled Tala and see it is a place full of rented holiday villas. The information I gave above applies to very traditional villages where there are few outsiders, and I don't think it applies in your case.

[chris4ray]

I'll look up the local villages and see what I can find, good idea

[carolh]

Saturday night is when the Easter Celebrations happen. There is a Church service which goes on until midnight. The churches are beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. It is traditional to take a decorated Easter candle into the church which is lit and then carried home to bless the house. Bonfires are lit outside the churches near to midnight and an effigy of Judas is burnt. It is usually a lovely sight to see people walking home with their candles lit in the darkness. We have even seen some people take their lit candles back in their cars!

[chris4ray]

thanks for the info carolh that is just what I am looking for

[chris4ray]

Had a great time in Tala at Easter. The bonfire was lit on Saturday night next to the church to burn 'judas', fireworks were let off and generally everyone had a good time. The church service was relayed accross the village and everyone went home with their candles.
Next day there were games and races for the children, singing and dancing and again a great time was had by everyone.
Would definitely go back again at Easter.