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Green
Monday Green Monday is a big celebration of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus and in
Greece. It marks 50 days before Easter day and the beginning of lent.
This period (the 50 days) is called Saracosti and is portrayed to
children as a lady with 7 legs. At the end of each week they can cut a leg
off Saracosti paper dolls and thus keep track of how long it is till
Easter. Green Monday is a big celebration because it is the beginning of
lent. People used to fast from Green Monday until Easter day. They fast by
not eating meat and dairy products. Nowadays there are many people who
still do that but there are also a lot of people who just fast for a
couple of weeks at the beginning and then again for the last two weeks
before Easter. On Green Monday people go out in the fields and have picnics. It is
a national holiday so everyone can go out. There are many traditional
games and songs which people have for the occasion and it is also the
custom to fly kites. There are many kites in the sky everywhere you look
on Green Monday. As for the food, people only eat fruit, vegetables and things like
mussels and octopus. There is lots of fresh bread with yummy dips like tahini and humus.
It’s great fun. Cleo |
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Carnival
time in Cyprus Every year in
Cyprus, around February, we celebrate carnival. The carnival period lasts
for about a week and the centre of the celebrations is the seaside town of
Limassol. On the last Sunday of the carnival period a big carnival parade
takes place in Limassol. The carnival king leads the parade and then
hundreds of people follow dressed with colourful costumes. Throughout the
week, but especially on this last Sunday, there’s dancing and singing
and many costume parties until the early hours of the morning. |
Games Played by students in Cyprus
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Lastiho ‘Lastiho’
means elastic band in Greek and this game is called that because it is
centred around an elastic band. Materials:
a flat-surfaced elastic band (the kind usually used for clothing i.e. for
tracksuit waists etc) The elastic band should be tied together at the ends
and it should be long enough so that it can fit around the legs of two
children leaving plenty of room between them (see picture below). Players: three
or more Instructions:
1.
Two players stand opposite each other with the elastic band around
their legs as in the picture above. 2.
The rest of the players take turns to complete the various stages
of the game. When all the players finish their turn one can volunteer to
support the elastic band so that the two players supporting it may also
get a chance to play 3.
For the first stage of the game the elastic band is placed only as
high as the players’ ankles. 4.
The first player has to stand in the centre of the rectangle formed
by the elastic band. From there she has to jump and land with her legs on
either side of the elastic band i.e. she has to land outside the centre of
the rectangle. 5.
From there she has to jump back inside the centre and outside
again. Finally, she jumps again to the centre and that’s the end of the
first stage. 6.
The player then moves to the next stage which is the same but with
the elastic band placed higher – at the height of the players’ knees. 7.
With every successful stage the player moves to the next one and
the elastic band is placed higher and higher. 8.
If the player is unsuccessful, another one takes a turn. The
game can be played with a variety of jumping steps that can be played
around the elastic band. Another favourite version is with the following
steps: 1.
Start with your legs on either side of the left of the elastic band
rectangle (NOT in the centre). 2.
Jump and land with your legs on either side of the right of the
elastic band rectangle. 3.
Jump and land back on either side of the left. 4.
Jump and land again with your legs on either side of the right. 5.
Jump and land with both legs in the middle. 6.
Jump and land with your legs outside the elastic band rectangle
(one on the left and one on the right). Sounds easy? Why don’t you try it? (Wait till that elastic band gets higher and higher
…………….!) |
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Hopscotch Hopscotch
is a game played all over the world. It is also a game played in Cyprus’
schoolyards, village streets and pavements for generations. In Cyprus it
is called “The King” (“Vasileas”). Here
are the details of how the game is played in Cyprus: Materials: flat stones to use as markers, a piece of chalk and a piece
of pavement! - see the
attached pictures regarding the shape of the ‘hopscotch board’ Players: two
or more Instructions: 1.
Toss the marker into the first square. The marker must land in the
square. 2.
If the marker lands in the wrong square, lose your turn. 3.
If the marker is in the square, hop on one foot through the court
beginning on square one. 4.
In squares 4, 5 and 7, 8 which are side-by-side land with the left foot
in the left square and the right foot in the right square. 5.
On single squares (1,2, 3, and 6) hop on one foot. 6.
When on squares 7 and 8, turn around and hop back stopping to pick up
your marker. 7.
Toss the marker into square number two, etc. 8.
If you step on a line, miss a square, or lose your balance, your turn
ends and another player starts. 9.
When you start again, start from the square where you stopped before. 10.
The
first player to complete “a hopscotch run” for every square on the
court wins the game. |