The Culture of Cyprus

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The Culture of Cyprus

Cypriots are very proud of their cultural heritage, which stretches

back more than 9000 years. Cyprus has many traditions and customs.

Cypriot culture is reflected in the rich folk art of the island.

Age-old crafts, handed down from one generation to another, are

faithfully carried on to this day by skilful hands and nimble fingers,

fashioning handcrafts, both decorative and useful, that would grace

any home. It is probably no surprise with a history so long, that

Cyprus is remarkably rich in culture.

Its importance has been honored by UNESCO which has included nine of

the island's Byzantine mountain churches and the entire town of Kato

Pafos in its World Cultural Heritage List. Wherever you go in Cyprus

you are reminded of a strong tradition that is kept alive from

generation to generation through the many events which are celebrated.

Food, too, reflects the culture: in the North you'll find mostly

Turkish cuisine, in the Republic, Greek. But wherever you are in

Cyprus, you'll come across kleftiko (oven-baked lamb) and mezedes

(dips, salads and other appetizers). Cyprus is also famous for its

fruit, which the government protects with a ban on imported products.

You'll find strawberries, stone fruit, melons, prickly pear, citrus

and grapes. Folk dancing is a popular pastime in Cyprus. It is often

done at ceremonious occasions to traditional music.

The younger generation of Greek Cypriots, having grown up in a

relatively peaceful, settled, and prosperous society, continues to

maintain aspects of traditional culture but also enjoys more modern

international clothing, popular music, and movies. Sports have come to

play a major role in the Greek Cypriot community. The government has

built stadiums, sports halls and swimming pools and has subsidized

associations and clubs for a wide spectrum of sports: there is a

professional league for association football (soccer) and a semi

professional league for basketball. Cypriots compete in the Olympic

Games, and young Cypriots engage in a variety of athletic activities,

including archery, bowling, fencing, gymnastics, skiing, tennis,

volleyball, and weight lifting.

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