How is Cypriot Christmas celebrated? They start with a mass in the church and end with a ritual cleansing in the sea

Do you know Cyprus doesn’t have just one traditional Christmas food?

And who is the local benefactor who brings gifts to the children?

How Christmas is celebrated in Cyprus may feel like going there.

When is Christmas in Cyprus?

December 23 officially marks the start of Christmas week in Cyprus. Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24; the following day is the first day of Christmas. 

Children receive gifts here on New Year’s Day (from December 31 to January 1).

In Cyprus, the Feast of the Three Kings coincides with Epiphany and Epiphany. January 6 is a public holiday in Cyprus, so in addition to the traditions associated with Epiphany, people celebrate this day with singing, dancing, and communal celebrations.

Christmas decorations in Cyprus

You can see the Christmas decorations here a month before Christmas. Dark red poinsettia flowers appear in the houses’ windows. In the run-up to Christmas, stores announce discounts, and gift shopping begins. The streets shine with lights and garlands. A lovely decoration is figurines of characters from the nativity scene, especially Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

People decorate their houses and balconies, hanging wreaths of fir or olive branches on their doors. Everyone is doing their best to have everything ready and decorated by December 23rd, the official start of Christmas week.

If you walk through the city streets at Christmas in Cyprus, you will see beautiful decorations all around you. But what is even more interesting, you will meet various animals, Santa Claus, and confectioners offering sweets along the way.

Christmas tree in Cyprus

Decorating artificial Christmas trees has become a widespread custom in Cyprus. The streets are decorated with live spruce lights. You will also often see boats here decorated for Christmas. This is due to the proximity of the sea and its importance for the residents.

Traditional dinner on Christmas Eve and New Year

In Cyprus, they have more traditional dishes. They sit down at the festive table on Christmas Day and then again on New Year’s. Dishes from pork, sausages, ham, cabbage, and jelly are commonly prepared. She often eats lamb, sometimes roast turkey. Wild cuisine, such as wild boar or hare, also appears. Traditional sweets, such as pancakes, are served with jam and sweet syrup. Dried fruits, nuts, and pomegranates must be present on the table as symbols of Christmas.

Vasilopita

Vasilopita is a traditional Christmas pie with a baked coin. It is prepared by mothers before the arrival of St. Basil (the local Jesus; we will talk about him later). The cake is left under the tree, and the next day, the festive cutting takes place. Whoever lands a piece with a coin will be lucky in the new year.

Melomakarona

Melomakarona are traditional cookies that are baked for Christmas in Cyprus. You can try to prepare them yourself! Here is the recipe.

Ingredients for the dough:

• 1/2 cup fine semolina
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 3 spoons of egg cognac
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
• ⅓ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ⅓ ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/3 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of sunflower oil
• 1/4 cup of honey
• peel of 2 oranges

For the syrup you will need:

• 2 cups of water
• 2 1/2 cup of sugar
• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 orange cut in half
• 1 cup of honey

Ingredients for decoration:

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• powdered cinnamon
• ground cloves (optional)

Procedure:

1. First, prepare the syrup. Add all syrup ingredients except honey to a saucepan. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sugar dissolves and remove from the heat. Stir in the honey and let cool completely.
2. Now, prepare the dough. Add the semolina, flour, and baking powder to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
3. Put the orange juice, cognac, sugar, and spices in another large bowl. Mix it up. Add the baking soda and immediately beat for 5-10 seconds until the ingredients are combined. Pour the water, oil, orange peel, and honey into a bowl. Stir to combine.
4. Now, combine the two mixtures from the bowls and knead the dough. All the ingredients must come together so that the dough is smooth, soft, and slightly sticky. Do not overwork it; otherwise, it will harden.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
6.  Line a tray with baking paper and shape the buns. Take a piece of dough the size of a walnut and shape it into a small egg with your palms. Place on a baking sheet and lightly press the top with a fork. Pierce three times in the top half. Continue this way further.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the melomakarona is lightly and evenly browned. If you have more giant buns, the baking time will be longer.
8. When you remove the finished buns from the oven, immediately dip them in the cold syrup and turn them over with a slotted spoon to absorb the syrup for 10-20 seconds.
9. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cookies from the syrup, place them on a plate, and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
10. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Who brings gifts in Cyprus at Christmas?

Agios Vasilis, or Saint Basil, carries gifts here. He also helped people experiencing poverty and became a symbol of mercy. They bring the presents on New Year’s Eve so the children can unwrap them the following day. As you probably already know, St. Basil is left with a Vasilopita Christmas cake under the tree.

Cypriot Christmas customs and traditions

In Cyprus, Christmas is celebrated with friends and family. Traditions include mass, pre-Christmas fasting, carol singing, and New Year’s offerings.

Mass in the church

The first person to go to church in Cyprus is for Christmas mass. This marks the end of the previous season of Lent, and once it is over, people wish for the coming Christmas and rush home for a celebratory dinner.

Visiting the cemetery

On Christmas Day, no one misses a visit to the cemetery. People come to remember their loved ones, place flowers on their graves, and pray for their souls to rest in peace.

Fire in the fireplace will protect you from evil

According to Cypriot legend, opposing and villainous demonic forces called Kalikantzary can enter the house from Christmas Day to New Year.

For protection, burning spruce or olive logs in the fireplace applies.

However, most people no longer go to the woods, so this tradition is declining.

But to this day, a burning fireplace from the beginning of Christmas until Epiphany is considered a good sign.

Purification on the Feast of the Epiphany

On the Feast of the Epiphany, there is a ritual cleansing in water. This custom is related to the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River when God chose him as his son. Priests throw the cross into the sea, and men jump into the water to retrieve it. Whoever catches him will be lucky. Women go to church to consecrate water, which they then sprinkle over their homes.

Cypriot Christmas carols

Carols are a massive tradition in Cyprus. Children go from house to house singing carols, often accompanied by small musical instruments, such as a tambourine or a triangle. For their caroling, they receive a reward of nuts, fruit, and sometimes money. It is believed that whoever children visit to carol will be lucky.

Greek Christmas Carols (Kalanta Xristougenon - Κάλαντα Χριστουγέννων)

Christmas Weather in Cyprus 

The average temperature in December in Cyprus is around 66°F, just enough to spend the day on the beach or by the pool. It’s no steamer, but it’s plenty enough. You can swim in the sea here for a few days all year round; the water is pleasantly warm.

If you dream of warmer destinations, look at where you can spend Christmas by the sea. But knowing how to wish Merry Christmas in Greece will be helpful if you go to Cyprus.

Kala Christougena! – Merry Christmas!