May 2015 EVENTS IN CYPRUS SAT, 16 – MON, 18 MAY 2015
International Museum Day The theme of this year’s International Museum Day is “Museums for a Sustainable Society”, which invites us to explore the relationship between sustainable development and culture. The Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) announce that 20 Museums will be participating in this year’s celebrations of International Museum Day (18 May) and of the European Night of Museums (16 May) with a variety of events. For further information and the program of events: http://tinyurl.com/h4n5u Furthermore, the Leventis Municipal Museum of Lefkosia also joins the celebrations with its own program of events, for more information: leventismuseum.org.cy SAT, 9 – SUN, 10 MAY 2015
Flower Festival (Anthestiria) “Anthestiria” is a celebration for the coming of spring and the renewal of nature and life dating back to Ancient Greece. Spectacular parades of flower-festooned floats, flower exhibitions and open air markets, as well as music performances take place in all coastal cities and Paralimni. For more information please contact: Germasogeia Municipality T. +357 25879898 Paphos Municipality T. +357 26932014 Larnaca Municipality T. +357 24654322 Paralimni Municipality T. +357 23819217 SAT, 30 MAY – MON, 1 JUNE 2015 (Public Holiday)
KATAKLYSMOS (FLOOD FAIR - DELUGE) “Kataklysmos” is a religious and popular feast celebrated only in Cyprus. “Kataklysmos”, which means flood, is found in the book of Genesis and in the Greek myth of ‘Deukalion’. In both cases it refers to the destruction by flood of almost allliving creatures in order to give birth to a new and moral generation. The most popular custom is the throwing of water to one another which symbolises the purification of the body and soul. The main festive day is Pentecost Monday but
the festivities last for a few days in all seaside towns; Larnaca’s ‘Phinikoudes’, the palm tree promenade, is transformed into an open-air market with stalls, watersports and a ‘chatista’ competition – a folk tradition of improvised rhymes in Cypriot dialect - as well as Greek and Cypriot singers and dance groups. Agia Napa & Protaras host celebrations with traditional dances and music, concerts, and water sports competitions. Limassol offers three days of fun at the seaside promenade near the city’s municipal gardens with market stalls, entertainment and water sports competitions. In Paphos the festival is celebrated outside the castle at the harbour, and includes concerts, dance groups and water sports competitions. Polis’ celebrations include songs, dancing, water sports and games at Latsi harbour. For further information and programs of events: www.agianapa.org.cy www.paralimni.org.cy www.larnaka.com www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy www.pafos.org.cy Furthermore, it is one of the Orthodox Great Feasts – second to Easter - the Pentecost (meaning the fiftieth day after Easter) commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The feast itself lasts three days. The service is celebrated with an all-night Vigil on the eve of the feast day, and the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast itself. In the Orthodox tradition the liturgical colour used at Pentecost is green. The Afterfeast of Pentecost lasts for one week, during which fasting is not permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday.
BIRD WATCHING IN CYPRUS Birdlife Cyprus arranges bird watching trips regularly. Organised by Birdlife Cyprus. For further information please contact tel. 22455072 or 99059541, www.birdlifecyprus.org
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