The first Traditional Culture Festival "Voices and Memories" started in Paralimni
With the opening ceremony and the inauguration of the exhibition, the first Traditional Culture Festival "Voices and Memories", organized by the Municipality of Paralimnii - Dherynia in cooperation with the Cultural Academy of Agios Epiphanios, started on Wednesday 9 April 2025 and will last until 30 April 2025.
The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday 9 April 2025 at the old church of St. George of Paralimni in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Culture Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, under whose auspices the Festival is held and who praised the initiative of the Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia in its contribution to the cultural events of the place.
It is a special initiative dedicated to the history, tradition and customs of Paralimni. The festival is a journey in the footsteps of Paralimnian history and cultural heritage, seeking to preserve and highlight local customs and traditions.
Two unique elements of Paralimni's cultural identity, the "Voice of Paralimnitssa" and "The Panaryn of St. George", which have been inscribed on the UNESCO National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, are at the heart of this year's first festival.
Through exhibitions, actions, folklore events and revivals of traditional customs, the festival will offer the public the opportunity to get to know and experience the customs and traditions of Paralimni, with emphasis on the church of St. George, its feast day and Easter customs that are still preserved in the region.
The festival aspires to become an institution on the cultural map of Cyprus, bringing to the fore the rich cultural heritage of the region and strengthening the connection of the new generation with its roots.
All information and the Festival programme at:https://pdm.org.cy/tag/fones-tziai-thymises/
ENTRANCE TO ALL EVENTS IS FREE.
Festival Programme:
Wednesday 9 April 2025, 19:30
SPACE | Old Saint George's Church / Saint Anne's Church Museum
Festival Opening Ceremony
Artistic programme by the Cultural Group "Roots of Cyprus". Participants: Kyriakos Hatziandreou (voice and guitar), Andreas Siantanis (lute), Panagiotis Kumasis (voice) and Stefanos Hatziandreou (violin).
Opening of the exhibition "Voices and Memories. St. George's and Lambris". The opening will be held by the Deputy Minister of Culture. The exhibition will remain open until 30 November 2025.
Friday 11 April 2025, 19:30
Venue | Event Hall of the Municipal Hall of Paralimnii - Deryneia
Theatrical Readings "For the Days of Lambris" by the Cultural Association Romiosyne
Saturday of Lazarus 12 April 2025, 11:00-13:00
SPACE | Traditional House of Paralimni
"Lazarus Saturday at the Traditional House of Paralimni".
A traditional event of music, flavours and traditional trades for young and old. Children will have the opportunity to prepare, bake and taste traditional flounces prepared by the Centre of Offer and Love (KEPA) of Agios Christoforos, to try their skills in pottery with the potter Christos Askotis, to make baskets at the Basketmaking Workshop, to learn about the distillation of zivania with the traditional craftsman Athinodoros Georgiou and to explore the Traditional House of Paralimni. The young Romiosini Ensemble of the Romiosini Cultural Association will participate in the event with carols of Lazarus from Greece and traditional music, as well as the 21st System of Paralimnii Naval Scouts, the 112th System of Naval Scouts of Derynia and the 291st System of Paralimnii Air Scouts with traditional games.
Palm Sunday 13 April 2025, 16:00
SPACE | Xenon Amphitheatre
Medieval Fairy Tales of Cyprus "...that dragons in Cyprus nothing else!" by Marina Katsari and Vangelis Gettos
The narrator Marina Katsari and the musician Vangelis Gettos take on the ghosts, the knights and the iron-barred knights of medieval Cyprus and sing about their sufferings and exploits. The legends and tales are rendered in their natural language, the Cypriot dialect, which reached its heyday in the late medieval period. The musical choices follow in the footsteps of the medieval harmonies that creatively infused Cypriot traditional music.
Holy Saturday 19 April 2025, 11:00-13:00
SPACE | Main Streets and Neighbourhoods of Paralimni
"The Kulluri"
Members of the 291st Air Scout System and the 21st Naval Scout System of Paralimni sing "The Kullouri" in the main streets and neighborhoods of Paralimni.
Holy Saturday 19 April 2025, 12:00
Venue | Event Hall of the Municipal Hall of Paralimnii - Deryneia
"St. George's palanquin with the Dragon" by the musical group Kazandibi
Experiential Workshop of Cypriot Traditional Music for children aged 5-9 years old with the Kazandibi music group. Participants: Kyriakos Markoullis and Elena Papageorgiou.
Easter Sunday 20 April 2025, 20:00
SPACE | Saint George Square - Metropolis
Traditional Concert "Anthology of Traditional Song"
The eight-member musical ensemble of Michalis Hadjimichael will participate. Singing.
Easter Monday 21 April 2025, 16:00
SPACE | Saint George Square - Metropolis
Traditional Games and Calypsos of Labris
Easter Monday 21 April 2025 19:00
SPACE | Saint George Square - Metropolis
The Panahyrin of St. George
Patinada, music and dance performance with Greek and Cypriot traditional dances and presentation of the event "The Traoullarides". Musical program by the traditional band "Nomades".
Artistic Program curation: Cultural Workshop "In front of the Lake"
Participants: St. George's Metropolitan Church Choirs with offto kleftiko, Paralimni Youth Council and Paralimni Youth Union Volleyball Academies.
Exhibition of Traditional Crafts with Basketry, Traditional Chair Binding, Wood Carving, Pottery, Weaving and Fish Weaving (Paneri).
"The Panahyrin of St. George" is inscribed on the UNESCO National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Saturday 26 April 2025, 10:00-13:00
SPACE | Saint George Square - Metropolis
"Living Voices and Memories"
Old people remember and young people learn in an interactive experience that connects the past with the present. Residents of Paralimni, bearers of local tradition, tell stories and turn them into a valuable part of the collective memory. Interactive artistic activities and a special guided tour for children and families at the exhibition "Voices and Memories. St. George's and Lambris' by curator Dr. Christina Kakkoura.
"Flour & Dough: Memories and Tradition"
Experiential Sensory Workshop for the whole family by the Center for Arts and Visual Therapy "Nefeles" in collaboration with the Hatzigiorkis Mills Museum (11:00-12:00)
Feast of Love and Offer
from the Metropolitan Church of St. George with games and activities for children and a food market. The Feast is organized by the Sunday Schools, the Christian Women's Association and the Choir "Anemoessa" of St. George's Metropolitan Church.
Sunday of Thomas 27 April 2025, 11:00
SPACE | Paralimini Main Roads
AFTERNOON | Saint George Square - Metropolis
"...Let us go to the sea"
Patinade in the main streets of Paralimni. Participants: Famagusta Traditional Music Orchestra, Cultural Workshop "Para ti Limni" Paralimni, Dance Group "Drymios" of Deryneia, Dance Group of Frenaros Cultural Club, Dance Group of the Cultural Group of Agios Georgios Acheritos - Vrysoulon and the traditional flag-wavers "Sbandieratori Delle Sette Contrade DiOrte" from Italy.
Monday 28 April 2025, 19:30
Venue | Event Hall of the Municipal Hall of Paralimnii - Deryneia
Lecture "Paralimni and St George"
Presenters:
- κ. Kostis Kokkinoftas, Centre for Studies of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos, "St. George in the folk tradition of Cyprus and Paralimni".
- Dr Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou, Byzantinologist, "Bring me my pole, I say, 'Ais Yorkis up'". Agios Georgios in Paralimni".
Moderator: former Ambassador of Cyprus to Greece, Professor of Modern Greek History George Georgis.
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 20:00
SPACE | Saint George Square - Metropolis
Festival Closing Ceremony
"...In the prose of St. George"
Concert of Famagusta Traditional Music Orchestra. Participants: Cultural Workshop "Para ti Limni"
ENTRANCE TO ALL EVENTS IS FREE
