www.visitcyprus.org.cy Kataklysmos, also known as the Festival of the Flood, is unique to Cyprus and takes place at Pentecost.
Festivities crop up in seaside towns around the island but the best place to watch is Larnaka. Traditionally, celebrations take place by the sea, possibly because Aphrodite reputedly first emerged from the sea at Petra tou Romiou on the west coast. The festival begins with an ecclesiastical ceremony, followed by a procession to the sea, whereupon the priest throws a crucifix into the sea and swimmers dive in to reclaim it. The priest blesses the successful diver, at which point festivities commence with nautical games and races, music, dancing, wrestling and a fair. One tradition is to throw water over your nearest and dearest, so be prepared to get wet. |