• Have you ever heard about Republic of Cyprus?

• How to greet people in Cyprus? • What are taboos in Cyprus?

Republic of Cyprus

The island of Aphrodite

Location and Geography

• The island is close to Turkey, Syria, and Egypt. Both Greek and Turkish Cypriots prefer to think of themselves as living close to Europe rather than Africa and the Middle East.

• The centrally located capital, Nicosia (called Lefkosia by Greek Cypriots and Lefkosha by Turkish Cypriots), is divided and functions as the capital of each side.

Symbol• A map of the island in orange–

yellow against a white background, symbolizing the color of copper, for which the island was renowned in ancient times.

• A wreath of olive leaves draws on nature rather than culture or religion.

• A dove flying with an olive branch in its beak in a shield inscribed with the date 1960, all within a wreath of olive leaves, symbolizing the desire for peace.

LANGUAGES

13% speak the official language Turkish, and 84% speak the official language Greek. The island is divided into two, and the Cypriot Turks live to the north, the Greek Cypriots to the south. Around 2.7% of each also speak the minority languages Armenian and Arabic.

RELIGIONSGreek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%

VALUESThe extended family is expected to help their relatives.Elders are respected and children expect to take care of their parents when as they become old and or infirm. The family is the centre of the social structure.

Manner• Remain standing until invited to sit down. • It is polite to finish everything on your plate. • If you have not finished eating, cross your knife

and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.

• Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.

Customs• Worry beads (The kompoloi or string of beads) is a

popular form of plaything amongst men.• Name Day (the feast day of the saint after which a

child was named)• Carnival or "Apokries". The festival consists of two

weeks of feast, beginning from the Sunday of Meat Fare and ends with the first day of the Lent, called Clean Monday (Kathari Deutera). Everyone is costumed and parties take place in the streets and bars, throwing coloured confetti to each other.

• Clean Monday or Lent Monday , the first day of the Lent (Saracosti) during which families go for a picnic in the countryside and fly kites.

• Kataklysmos (Festival of the Flood) takes place in Cyprus every year in June, 50 days after Orthodox Easter in all the seaside areas of the island.

Ceremony Ritual

• Engagement • Plate smashing (at wedding

or other celebration)

• Orthodox Easter• During the night of the Holy Saturday (Megalo

Savato), everybody goes to the church where a ceremony is hold. Just before midnight, all of the lights of the church are turned off, symbolizing the darkness and silent of the tomb, while the priest lights a candle from the Eternal Flame, sings the psalm Christos Anesti (meaning Christ has risen) and offers the flame to light the candles of the people. Everyone passes the flame one to another. The bells ring continuously and people throw fireworks. The Good Saturday Dinner takes place after midnight and consists of mayiritsa, tsoureki (Easter cake) and red eggs. On Easter Sunday, the family roasts the lamb on the spit.

Taboo Thought Pattern

Do not give white lilies as a gift.

Do not pass dishes with your left hand around the table

• You can only change

something in your life when you are fully aware of it.

Myth Kallikantzaroi  (Christmas Goblins)• Cypriots believe that they make all kinds of

mischief such as dousing the fire, riding on people’s backs, and making the milk sour. It is believed that they visit only at Christmas time.

• Matiasma (evil eye), After a person has caught the evil eye, they usually feel bad physically and psychologically. To avoid the matiasma, those who believe in it will often wear a charm; a little blue marble glass with an eye painted on it or a blue.

Legend• Pygmalion, a Cypriot sculptor who carved a woman out of

ivory and named her Galatea, then fell in love with her.• Anaxarete, a Cypriot maiden who refused the advances of a

shepherd named Iphis. Anaxarete spurned him and mocked his feelings until he cried in despair and hanged himself on her doorstep. Anaxarete was still unmoved. When she mocked his funeral, calling it pitiful, Aphrodite turned her into a stone statue.

• The birth of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and desire.

Beliefs Stereotype Tuesday ,13th is the

unlucky day. Cypriots are known for the

genuine and sincere hospitality and friendliness.

The words 'Kalosorisate' (Welcome!) and 'Kopiaste' (Come join us!) are frequently called to locals and foreigners.

Arts

&

Tools

   Tatsia dance

Zeibekikosdance

• sousta, syrtos, karsilamas dances.

Kapnistri ( meat presser)Lute

Food• Loukoumia

• Paklava / Baklava

•Halloumi•meze

References• http://www.cyprus.com/cypriot-people---culture.html• http://www.justaboutcyprus.com/cyprus_culture.html• http://www.yourcyprusportal.com/cyprus-culture-tradi

tions-and-customs.php• http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Cyprus.html• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiq

uette/cyprus-country-profile.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus• http://www.cyprusnewsreport.com/?q=node/6875• http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Cyprus.html#ixzz

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Thank you for your attention

Any questions???