1. Christmas Traditions in Cyprus Christmas in Cyprus is traditionally an important religious holiday.. Throughout the festivities, there is no doubt that Cyprus honours Christ at Christmas

2. House Decorations At the beginning of December we decorate a Christmas tree which has become one of the most beloved and well known holiday symbols. We also hang Christmas stockings for ”Santa Claus” to put some sweets in them!

3. Christmas carols During the Christmas period we sing carols called "kalanda“ which have been handed down from Byzantine times. These Carols are usually sung, by children and teenagers who go round their neighborhood in groups. The house owners give some money and some sweets. A group of children from our school singing Kalanda

4. Christmas Cake Every housewife prepares a “Christmas Cake” which decorates the Christmas table for many days. It’s a cake made with a lot of dried fruit and nuts. On the top of it, white icing is spread which represents snow. It is decorated with various Christmas decorations.

5. Christmas Sweets We also make some Christmas traditional sweets Melomacarona are”honey cookies” stuffed with dates and nuts. “ Kourambiedes” shortbread biscuits

6. Also Christmas cookies are very popular. The cookies are shaped like a star or a Christmas tree Christmas Sweets ” And chocolates

7. Christmas Eve On Christmas Eve women in Cyprus knead a special bread called "gennopitta“ known as“Christopsomo”. Christopsomo is eaten on Christmas day. This bread is a sweet yeast bread, and is characteristically decorated with the symbol of the cross.

8. A little pig for Christmas In the villages of Cyprus each family used to buy a little pig on Palm Sunday, in spring. 2-3 days before Christmas this pig was slaughtered and cut into pieces. Some of pieces were put in wine, together with salt, coriander and hang to make smoked meat or sausages to eat them on Christmas Day

9. One of the most important ways Cyprus celebrates Christmas is through food. An enormous amount of cooking and hard work starts to prepare the food for Christmas. Christmas Day The time for family gatherings and holiday meals. Dishes such as stuffed turkey,or “Souvla” which is roasted lamb or pork meat cooked on charcoal, are traditionally eaten on Christmas day. stuffed turkey Souvla

10. New Year’s Eve A common village tradition is to cross a leaf of olive tree by a fireplace and then, after making a wish to Saint Vassilis, toss it into the fire. Before tossing the dry leaf into the flames, you would say ” Saint Vassili King, show and illuminate if I am loved by… and then you name whoever’s love you are hoping for. If the leaf jumps up after you dropped it in the fire, then that means the person loves you. If not, you try again.

11. Vasilopitta Vasilopitta is a traditional cake which is made on the 1st of January every year especially for Ayios Vasilios. They cut it into pieces and one piece has a coin inside. The person who finds it, is believed to be lucky for the rest of the year.

12. New Year's day  In Cyprus children used to get their presents on New Year's Day as this day is also Saint Vasilis Day.  Saint Vasilis is the children's favorite Saint because he always comes with a bag full of presents

13. New Year's day  So on New Year's Eve, after the children had gone to bed, their mother puts under the Christmas tree a piece of vasilopitta and a glass of wine for Santa.  The children wake up early in the morning to open Santas presents.

14. Thank you for listening We wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year