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Just like every corner of Cyprus has its own
manners and customs, Choletria also had its own. Some were common
and others had their own particular coloration. Some of them
survived the passage of time and are still kept today by the
younger generations. |
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Christmas - New Year's Day |
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All the houses of the village raised their
own hog, which was to be slaughtered during the festive days.
On the eve of the holiday or on the day itself, the animal was
slaughtered. All the relatives would gather to help. They separated
the animal's portions and prepared the "lountza" (dried
meat from the skeletal muscles of the back) and the sausages,
after soaking them in wine. A quarrel would start amongst the
kids about who would get the swine's "fouska" (balloon,
bladder). Pies were made out of small pieces of meat. On Christmas
day the church was packed with people.
On New Year's eve, when the bell would chime for the evening
prayer, everyone rushed to cut a branch from an olive tree.
This branch was placed at the house's entrance. They believed
that it would drive away the "Kalikantzaroi" (plural,
Christmas elfs / goblins). They also believed that by throwing
an olive leaf upon live coals you could discover whether the
one you love also loves you. If the leaf bounced then the love
was mutual; if the leaf burned without bouncing then this person
was not in love with you.
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The Epiphany |
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On the day of the Epiphany they would bring water from the church.
They sprinkled it over the house, the livestock, and the fields.
They also brought light with which they lit the candle at the
house's icon stand. After the end of the mass, the village's
priest would tour from house to house, sanctifying the entire
village. |
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Carnival |
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During the period of the carnival the inhabitants
would gather in relatives' houses, dining and having fun. They
would also masquerade themselves and roam around teasing all
the inhabitants of Choletria. On Shrove Monday, the first day
of the Great Lent, all the locals would go out to the fields,
taking with them food that was meatless and entertaining themselves
as they began fasting. |
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Easter |
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Every day of the Holy Week the village's church
would fill with people observing the holy services with devoutness.
The housewives cleaned their houses and engaged in the preparation
of the sweets, the bread rolls, the painting of the eggs, and
the baking of the "flaounes" (plural, traditional Easter
pastry with cheese and raisins). The carrying of the Epitaph
around the village would take place on Good Friday. Wood was
gathered for the Easter Bonfire on Holy Saturday. On Easter day
all the inhabitants of the village would entertain themselves
by playing various games in front of the church. |
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27th of July - Feast of St. Panteleimonas |
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On St. Panteleimonas's day, tens of people
coming from all the communities of the region would come to the
village. Among them were many ill persons who were pleading the
Saint to heal them and others that -holding their offering -were
thanking him for his help. After the end of the Mass, the people
participated in the fair where one could find every kind of merchandise. |
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Weddings |
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Weddings were a great -yet pleasant -turmoil
for the community.
The inviting of guests would begin a month before. The women
from the families of the persons about to be married invited
the community's inhabitants, offering a bread-roll to each family.
The other families of the village offered to the ones that had
the wedding a basket full of comestibles. They also brought wheat
for the "resi" (traditional wedding dish), chickens,
potatoes, and whatever anyone had.
The villagers helped with the slaughter of the animals and the
cooking of the "kleftikon" (roasted mutton).
The wedding lasted for three days.
The folk fiddlers sang and played music entertaining the people.
The wind echoed with traditional rhyming couplets ("tshattista")
that praised the groom and the bride.
After the bride and groom were dressed, their relatives would
girdle them with a red bandanna and perfumed them with incense.
Many single females would write their names under the bride's
shoes. If the name of some female was erased, they believed that
she would marry pretty soon.
They would dance and also embellish the bridal bed. The bridesmaids
sawed four crosses at the mattress's ends. They believed that
in this way they helped to consolidate the marriage.
After the
end of the sacrament in the church, everyone would have fun and
participate in the couple's joy. As the couple
was danced, everyone pinned money upon them ("ploumizo",
embellish). The wishes and compliments of all accompanied the
couple in their new lives. |
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