A Variety of Events And Concerts on The Waterfront
Celebrated early June 50 days before Easter, Kataklysmos is one of the most anticipated holidays in Cyprus. This year Katakysmos is celebrated on 21 -24 of June. It’s a unique festival with its origins tied to ancient Greek mythology and Christian traditions. The holiday involves a lot of water-related activities, music, dancing, and delicious local food.
The Flood Festival known as “Kataklysmos”, is a watery festival with an ancient historical background which represents the Old Testament tale of Noah’s Ark and the Greek myth of Deukalion.
During the festival, the coastal cities of Cyprus, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos, organize a variety of events and concerts on the waterfront. Some of the special events organized are water sports, swimming competitions, dancing, singing and the traditional throwing water at each other!
JOIN IN AND HAVE FUN
The Celebrations Last For Three Days
Usually the celebrations last for three days, Saturday until Monday late at night. Besides throwing water at each other, Monday morning has its spiritual meaning as well!
Monday symbolizes the purification through water, for that reason people dive into the sea to retrieve the Cross thrown into the water by the Archbishop. Read Epiphany event….
The Flood festival (Kataklismos) also holds a great cultural importance and several competitions are organized for singers, poets, dancers etc.
The traditional poems “tsiattista” competition is very popular among the crowd who listens carefully to the satirical and funny verses of short songs where anyone can take part.
What is The Meaning of “kataklismos”
‘Kataklismos’ (‘Flood Festival’) is a religious celebration that honours the Holy Spirit and overlaps with the local holiday, called ‘White Monday’ or Pentecost, which marks 50 days after the Greek Orthodox Easter. Therefore, the date of the bank holiday changes every year. The event usually takes place on the day of the Holy Spirit. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.
The History of Kataklysmos
However, in Cyprus celebration is connected to some of the ancient celebrations to honour the island’s all-time favourite couple – Aphrodite and Adonis. ‘Kataklismos’ in the book of Genesis and in the Greek mythology appears as Deukalion “The destruction by flood of almost all living creatures, in order to give birth to a new and moral generation.”
That is the reason why water is the main focus of the festival with water games, concerts, folk music, poetry, dancing, boat races and sometimes even throwing water on each other. Now, this might not make everyone happy, but it can be fun in the right company! Whatever activities you choose in coastal cities of Cyprus, always remember that getting wet can be part of the celebration.
