The "Flood" Celebrations - Ayia Napa 2015
Pentecost is celebrated in Cyprus in a completely different way than in any other Christian country.
It is a celebration which derives directly from the pre-Christian ages, when the people of the island used to flock to the sea in springtime to welcome Aphrodite’s lover Adonis, who was coming from the Underworld to spend his half-a-year with the Goddess of Love. (According to the Greek Mythology, Aphrodite and Persephone where sharing Adonis as their lover. The six winter months he spent with Persephone in the Underworld and the six summer moths with Aphrodite on “our” side. Maybe it is then that the fame of Cyprus as a destination for summer holidays started – hehehe.)
In post-Christian times Cypriots continue to flock in masses to the sea, but without the Aphrodite / Adonis pretext. We do it on the Pentecost weekend, having given it this time the name “Flood” (Κατακλεισμός), in commemoration of Noah’s Flood.
Every town and village near the sea organizes for two days a big event for the thousands of guests who come. Competitions of water sports and games, funfairs, fireworks, concerts of well-known singers and (of course) lots of food are to be enjoyed.
These photos here are from the celebrations in Ayia Napa in June 2015.
The "Flood" Celebrations - Ayia Napa 2015
Pentecost is celebrated in Cyprus in a completely different way than in any other Christian country.
It is a celebration which derives directly from the pre-Christian ages, when the people of the island used to flock to the sea in springtime to welcome Aphrodite’s lover Adonis, who was coming from the Underworld to spend his half-a-year with the Goddess of Love. (According to the Greek Mythology, Aphrodite and Persephone where sharing Adonis as their lover. The six winter months he spent with Persephone in the Underworld and the six summer moths with Aphrodite on “our” side. Maybe it is then that the fame of Cyprus as a destination for summer holidays started – hehehe.)
In post-Christian times Cypriots continue to flock in masses to the sea, but without the Aphrodite / Adonis pretext. We do it on the Pentecost weekend, having given it this time the name “Flood” (Κατακλεισμός), in commemoration of Noah’s Flood.
Every town and village near the sea organizes for two days a big event for the thousands of guests who come. Competitions of water sports and games, funfairs, fireworks, concerts of well-known singers and (of course) lots of food are to be enjoyed.
These photos here are from the celebrations in Ayia Napa in June 2015.