Kataklysmos

Every year in June, 50 days after Orthodox Easter, Kataklysmos, or Flood Festival is celebrated. This is a genuinely unique celebration, held only in Cyprus and a few Greek seaside villages. The celebration takes place on Holy Spirit Day, which commemorates the biblical account of Noah and the Flood, and features a lot of water, with the main events taking place in Larnaca.

However, in Cyprus, the festivities are linked to ancient traditions held in honor of Aphrodite and Adonis. The festival's major theme is water. Concerts, games, and other events are held by the shore in all coastal cities. Larnaca hosts Cyprus' largest Flood Festival, which lasts several days and honors Kataklysmos. There is an open-air market on the coastal promenade with several kiosks offering toys and traditional food. A competition for rhyming songs in Cypriot dialect is also held, as well as performances by Greek and Cypriot singers and dancers. People will be splashing seawater on each other, symbolizing the cleaning of the body and soul.

When: June

Where: Larnaca