Christmas Customs in Cyprus!

Are you planning a Christmas holiday in Cyprus this year? Take a look at the Cyprus traditions and customs you’ll be a part of!

Did you know that Cypriots also decorate a Christmas Tree during Christmas? This is a custom Cypriots adopted from the Britons, when they used to rule the island many years ago!  At the beginning of December, families gather and decorate their Christmas tree which is one of the most loved holiday symbols.

Did you know that Cypriots fast before Christmas Day? For the religious Cypriots, Christmas time is a religious time, where they attend church and fast right up to Christmas Day, when they celebrate the birth of Christ with a feast!

Did you know that Christmas is celebrated for nearly a month in Cyprus? Christmas celebrations kick off at the beginning of December with the Feast of St. Nicholas and run till January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany.

Did you know that Cypriots sing ‘Kalanda’? Beautiful carols named kalanda are sung during Christmas. The carols have been handed down from Byzantine times. Besides choruses singing in different events, little children also go around knocking on houses and singing kalanda for treats!

Did you know that the Kallikantzari are Christmas Hobgoglins? These evil creature surface from the underground once a year during Christmas to play pranks on people. The Kallikantzari are short, ugly and deformed little mischief monsters who find their way to people’s homes through their chimneys upon seeing their Christmas trees! According to the Christmas legend, the only way to keep these malicious creatures away is to keep the fireplace flaming all through Christmas time. Also, people tend to sprinkle holy water around their homes, warding the kallikantzarous away!

Did you know that Christmas presents are exchanged on New Year’s and not Christmas Day? This is because the Cypriot Santa is Saint Basil who is celebrated on the 1st of January. On New Year’s Eve, parents leave a cake with a coin in it as well as a jar of wine for Saint Basil. As legend has it, Saint Basil arrives, blesses the cake and drinks the wine before he places the children’s gifts under the Christmas Tree.

Did you know that Saint Basil’s Cake is called Vasilopitta? Basil in Greek is Vasilis, so his cake is called Vasilopitta (Saint Basil’s cake). Once the children wake up in the morning, Vasilopitta is cut. As we mentioned above, a coin is hidden in the cake. So, whomever finds the coin in their slice of cake is said to be the lucky for the year.

Did you know that relatives ‘Ploumizoun’ (give money) the children on Epiphany Day? Epiphany day is celebrated on the 6th January every year. So, once the children wake up, they run to their parents, grandparents and relatives and say “Kalimera kai ta Phota ke tin ploumistira prota”! this literally means, Good morning on this day of light and let give us our gift first.

Did you know that Cyprus celebrates Christmas through food? If you are a foodie in Cyprus during Christmas than you’ll love it! The Christmas table overflows with delicious dishes and sweets such as Kourabiedes, Melomakarona, souvla, turkey with all the trimmings and lots more!

Want to experience a Cypriot Christmas to the fullest? Book your Christmas holiday with Louis Hotels in Cyprus. Three of our most popular hotels remain open for the Christmas holidays and you can book your holidays directly from their websites: Louis Phaethon Beach & Louis Imperial Beach in Paphos & The Royal Apollonia in Limassol!