Carnival
While all of Cyprus celebrates Carnival with costumes and parties , there is no city which approaches the spectacle Limassol annually presents. The Apokrea festival begins two weeks before the 50 day Greek Orthodox Lenten period, which occurs after the Roman Catholic pre-Easter period. The first week is called the Meat week (Kreatini), as it is the last week for eating meat before Easter. The second week is known as the cheese week (tyrini), when cheese and other dairy products may be consumed.
Carnival festivities begin on the Thursday of the Meat Week and this day is known as Tsiknopefti , gaining its name from the unmistakable aromas of the meat cooking. The festival starts with the entrance parade of the King Carnival, who enters the beautiful town which is decorated for this exciting occasion. The first two Sundays is the Children’s Parade and then, the serenaders with their melodic guitars and mandolins became the focus of the Carnival. During the carnival nights, many fancy-dress balls and parties take place at hotels. People gather to feast , sing satirical songs and play games. The last Sunday of the cheese week is the highlight of the carnival. This is when the Grand Carnival Parade takes place on the last Sunday of the Carnival Festivities, before Green Monday or the first day of lent. Colourful floats and groups of people, singing and dancing, parade in the main roads of Limassol creating a truly festive atmosphere. The open air celebrations and feasting take place theoughout the towns of Cyprus, but the Grand Parade in Limassol is the peak focus of the Carnival. During the Carnival parade large crowds from all over the island gather to watch the floats that are accompanied by the serenaders and other amazing costumed groups. Pafos also boasts a fantastic carnival parade that filled with lots of fun, dancing and music.
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