Roots deep in time, interwoven with religious sentiment, but also a social, commercial event are the festivals that continue unabated even today, with those organized on the fifteenth of August standing out.
The festival was, said Anna Tselepou, who studies the tradition, at KYPE, an open-air religious and social event, but at the same time a commercial event, as on this day they could buy fruits, vegetables, legumes as well as useful items, such as utensils, tools and traditional products.
The churches scattered all over the island – magnificent or humble – dedicated to the Virgin Mary on this day will function with magnificence and attract the faithful , but also pramateutades, while in some communities the classical festival is combined with other events and music and dance performances.
The Virgin Mary for the faithful of Cyprus, especially for the women who wore black from the wars in our country, always has a special place in their hearts, said Mrs. Tselepou, noting that it is the constant invocation that comes to their mouths in joys and sorrows.
My Virgin Mary, Virgin Mary help, the most frequent invocation. The Dormition of the Virgin, which is celebrated on the fifteenth of August, can be considered one of the most important feasts of Christianity and in Cyprus, he noted, adding that an entire fortnight is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, preceded by fasting, until the fifteenth of August marks the day when her name will be celebrated .
It is such a magnificence that it is called Summer Easter or Easter of the Virgin Mary, he added.
In the temples, he continued, there are hundreds of handmade breads for the feast of the Virgin Mary.
With majesty in the churches, especially those dedicated to the Virgin, on this day her name will be glorified. Housewives carry from the evening the breads they leavened together with the breads for the festive table the next day, to the churches and they will “celebrate the Virgin Mary”. as they say to glorify her name.
At noon on the fifteenth of August, a feast will be set up with the whole family. In the afternoon the festival begins…
Source: KYPE
