Why? Because Easter is coming soon. Cyprus is traditionally really getting into a party mood. At the moment, we are right in the middle of a period of great fun and eating – but don’t get too carried away, because there is a penalty to pay. There are fifty days of fasting before Easter arrives – that’s right, fifty days - but that doesn’t deter everyone from having a really good time!
Easter is always my favourite time of the year in Cyprus. Not only does the island look beautiful, but everyone seems to be happier now the warmer weather is coming.
The carnival period, when all the merry making takes place, is ten days before everyone starts the long fast.
The first week is known as “Meat Week”, when traditionally, only meat is eaten. The second week is known as “Cheese Week”, when traditionally only cheese and other dairy products are eaten.
I must confess, I don’t know many expats who stick to this, but many Cypriots do. There are so many strange looking products in the supermarkets during this time – I must say, they don’t look very appetising, but I guess that’s all part of the tradition - fasting is fasting and the food is there for a purpose after all.
There is an exception though. The traditional Easter breads are absolutely delicious; especially the cheese bread. When these have just been baked and are put on the supermarket shelves they are really hard to resist.
My neighbour bakes her own cheese bread. The taste is amazing - unlike my efforts, but I won’t go into that culinary disaster too much, suffice to say my cheese bread was a bit like my Victoria sandwich cakes – two dozen eggs later and they still came out of the oven like bricks.
Moving swiftly on, Green Monday was last Monday, but was spoilt by rain. This is a day when people fly kites in Cyprus, it’s very colourful. Whole families take part with picnics on the beaches, in the mountains, by the dams, in fact, wherever they can fly a kite. Shame the weather was not so good.
Green Monday is also the first day of Lent and apart from the kite flying, it is celebrated with vegetarian picnics – and copious amounts of alcohol. Immediately following this, the fifty day fast starts, where the locals shun meat and dairy products and live on a vegetarian diet.
Talking about celebrations, the next one in Cyprus is Friday, 25th March which is Greek National Day. This is a public event with local student parades in all towns across the island.
Well, all this talk about food and drink has made me hungry, so it’s time for coffee and a cake. Never mind the waistline.
Why not come over to Cyprus for Easter and join in the celebrations? There are some bargains flights around if you hunt hard.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
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