Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, attracting over 2,000,000 visitors every year. The island has something for everyone including friendly people, an amazing coastline, stunning mountain village, family resorts, marinas, a booming agro-tourism scene, world class spas and award-winning golf courses designed by golfing legends. On your bargain holidays to Cyprus, sample tradition Cypriot cuisine and follow the islands new wine trails celebrate the 40 new wineries which have developed on the island in recent years. Six wine routes criss-cross the island, taking in some of the best boutique wineries. Cypriot wine production dates back nearly 5,000 years. The warm waters of Cyprus are perfect for diving and water-skiing while those seeking adventure can explore this beautiful island on trekking or bird-watching tours.

So why go to Cyprus for your winter sun holiday? Apart from holiday packages being at their lowest price at this time of the year, the following are just a few reasons why Cyprus is perfect choice for your holidays during the winter season.

1. Average winter daytime temperatures throughout the whole of Cyprus rarely drop below 20C making this the ideal time to explore the island and all it has to offer. With 340 days of sunshine a year you can be sure to catch some rays throughout December and January. The island’s magnificent blue-flag beaches enjoy sea temperatures in the high teens throughout the winter months making it possible to take a dip on Christmas Day!

kallikantzari

2. Christmas is an amazing time on Cyprus with age-old traditions and plenty of delicious Cypriot food. Unique to the region is the habit of hanging crosses wrapped in basil and sprinkled with holy water on the front door of a house to ward off the kallikantzari (goblin-like spirits), which are said to make mischief during the twelve days of Christmas. The towns and villages across the island celebrate Christmas with magical processions accompanied by kalanda (carols) which have been handed down from generation to generation since Byzantine times. The main festival on Christmas Day is held in Eleftheria (Freedom) Square Nicosia. Larnaca plays host to one of the most dramatic services on the 5th January when young swimmers dive for a cross which they return to the priest.

3. Winter is not excluded from the islands colourful year-round cultural scene. Concerts and events take place all over Cyprus, from local bands, choirs, orchestras, dancers and groups through to Viva Verdi – Moscow New Opera in Rialto, Limassol. Eleftheria Square in Nicosia is the place to be to catch live acts with performances everyday during the last two weeks of December with free entertainment every Sunday at the entrance of the Pafos Mosaics near the harbour.

4. The Cypriot people love their food which plays a major role in their Christmas celebrations. Christopsomo (Christ Bread) accompanied by

kourabiedes

dried figs, nuts and honey are eaten on Christmas Eve with stuffed turkey, roast chicken and roast lamb traditionally served on Christmas day. If you have a sweet tooth you will love the traditional cakes such as kourabiedes (a small almond cake coated in icing sugar), melomakarona (traditional honey cake) and finikia (walnut pie). If you hanker for a traditional British Christmas dinner with all the trimmings you will not be disappointed as most of the hotels observe UK traditions with traditional British fare and festive decorations.

5. New Year is an important date for families in Cyprus with the 1st January marking the Feast of St Basil, the regions equivalent to St Nicholas. This is the main day for present-giving. Downtown Limassol plays host to some of the best New Years Eve parties but most of the hotels celebrate with style. Visitors should celebrate New Year in Cyprus with a piece of Vassilopitta (St Basils Cake) which is baked with a silver or gold coin to bring good luck to the person who finds it.

6. Visit Cyprus for pampering and relaxation. In recent years the island has seen a number of high quality spas and health farms open which mixed together with the year-round good climate and varied terrain offers a great way to recharge your batteries. Intense yoga stays and relaxing spa breaks together with treatments which are indigenous to Cyprus, such as the chance to be immersed in the healing waters at Ayii Anargyri, will leave you feeling totally relaxed and revitalised.

7. Car hire is exceptionally cheap at this time of the year giving visitors a chance to explore this amazing island under their own steam. The Cyprus Tourism Organisation has teamed up with the Travel Foundation to create 6 self-drive routes which will guide you to some of the most beautiful and special parts of the hidden interior of the island.

Just a four hour flight from the UK, December holidays in Cyprus remain a popular winter sun holiday choice with visitors from the UK and all over – 136,000 Brits who visited the island last year can’t be wrong!

Thanks to visitcyprus.com for the above facts and figures.

Because Cyprus has been under the control of lots of different nations throughout its long history, it’s unique cuisine has been influenced by the like of Britain, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, France and Italy.

Cypriots make the most of their fresh produce and the abundant seafood, vegetables, pulses, grains and meat that make up the basis of the Cypriot diet.

Meze

The traditional Meze is one of the most famous concepts behind the way Cypriots eat. Dining meze-style is a great way to try a wide variety of Cypriot cuisine.

A traditional meze session could include dips like tahini, taramasalata and plenty of bread, olives, spanakopita (a spinach and feta cheese pie wrapped in filo pastry), vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat, yemista (stuffed vegetables with lots of garlic), casseroles and stews, and the famous souvla (chunks of meat threaded on a spit and grilled over charcoal).

Because Cyprus has a dry, sunny climate herbs, figs, dates, almonds, olives and beans thrive. Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and avocados grow all over the island and form the basis of a lot of Cypriot dishes. During the summer months black cherries, apricots, grapes, peaches, nectarines, and green and purple figs thrive and will be on many a Cypriot menu.

Halloumi

Halloumi is the famous traditional white cheese of Cyprus (made from sheep’s milk) which has been made on the island for hundreds of years. Halloumi is a very versatile cheese and is eaten in Cyprus grilled, fried (in slices as part of a cooked breakfast), in salads, and stuffed inside ravioli.

Lamb and beef are popular all over the island but pork is only eaten on the Greek side, due to the religious beliefs of many Turkish Cypriots. Goat and chicken are also popular. Seafood from the Mediterranean is eaten all year round and includes sardines, calamari, octopus, whitebait, sea bass and swordfish.

Kafenio

Cypriots drink a lot of strong, sweet coffee in kafenio, their local coffee shops. Coffee is normally served with a glass of water on the side.

Wine has been produced in Cyprus for thousands of years, the island being famous for Commanderia, a sweet dessert wine.

Christmas in Larnaca

Christmas (Christouyenna in Greek) is a great time to vist Cyprus.

Temperatures are normally around 20 degrees during the day and that is why many people spend their Christmas holiday in Cyprus. The sun is shining, you can relax and chill out on one of the lovely beaches and have a dip in the beautiful sea.

Christmas Traditions
Christmas is celebrated as a religious holiday and on Christmas Eve everyone goes to church and many children go from house to house singing seasonal carols (kalanda).

Cypriot families celebrate the 12 days of Christmas which end with the feast of Epiphany on 6 January.
Goblin-like spirits known as kallikantzeri make a lot of mischief during the twelve days of Christmas and many homes protect themselves by wrapping a sprig of basil around a cross and then sprinkling it with holy water. The water is then sprinkled in each room throughout the 12 days of Christmas.

Traditional Christmas Food
An enormous amount of cooking and hard work goes into Christmas as it’s one of the most joyous times of the year.

Kourabiedes

Loaves of Christopsomo (Christ Bread) are eaten on Christmas Eve and dishes such as stuffed turkey, chicken and roast lamb are traditionally eaten on Christmas day.
Also very popular are the traditional mezes and cakes such as kourabiedes (small almond cakes coated in icing sugar), melomakarona (honey cakes) and Finikia (walnut cakes).

Christmas and Pomegranates
Over the Christmas period pomegranates are eaten and also used for decoration. Pomegranates are associated with Greek mythology and Persephone and the Underworld and they are also a symbol of joyous times, good fortune, fertility and prosperity and associated with the gods Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hera.

New Year
Children receive their presents on New Year’s Day as this is the day of Ayios Vasilis (St Basil) the Greek Santa Claus.

When all the children have gone to sleep a cake (with a coin inside) and a glass of wine are placed by the Christmas Tree.

Vasilopitta Cake

Ayios Vasilis (St Basil) drinks the wine and blesses the cake and places presents around the tree. In the morning the Christmas cake (Vasilopitta) is cut and the one who finds the coin will be lucky all year.