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Cyprus Local Customs

Learn the local customs of Cyprus. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Cyprus locals.
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local wines of Cyprus
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    • MrBill
  • By MrBill on December 27, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by MrBill
    • bottles - Cyprus
    bottles
    by MrBill
    Cyprus has a hot & dry climate. I personally do not like Cypriot olives. I find them too bitter. However, the hot & dry climate produces very good grapes, with a high sugar content, and therefore very good wines. The alcohol content of Cypriot wines is very high in comparison with other wines. White wines can have 11.5-12.5 percent alcohol by volume, and red wines 12.5-13.5 percent. This creates a very full-bodied, dry wine. In the supermarket you can buy a bottle of table wine for CYP1.75 ($4.25) which is potable, for example Aphrodites made by KEO. It is perfectly drinkable for the price. This same wine in a restaurant will cost between CYP4.00 and 8.00 depending on the class of the restaurant. Better wines start at CYP2.75 ($6.60) and run up in price to about CYP5.25 ($12.60) in the supermarket. There are no vintage wines and none worth buying and storing. But, as table wines, they are very good. I notice many restaurants sell their white wines too warm for my palate. I have talked to the bar tenders and this is not for any particular reason, just their refridgerators are not set cool enough. Therefore, I always insist that the white wine is served along with a bucket of ice to put it in. Enjoy your Cypriot wine. Cheers.

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    local beers of Cyprus
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    • MrBill
  • By MrBill on December 27, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by MrBill
    • local beers - Cyprus
    local beers
    by MrBill
    KEO is the largest drinks maker and distributor on the island of Cyprus. They make wine, beer, spirits, and also distribute juices and bottled water products. KEO brews Carlsberg under license. KEO & Carlsberg are the two main beers found in every bar and restaurant on the island. They usually sell as domestic brands which are cheaper than imported beers. However, Leon is also a good local beer, but not as popular as KEO & Carlsberg. Five (5) is an upstart and found mainly in some upmarket bars & restaurants because it is currently trendy. Not shown in this picture is a new Greek beer called Mythos. It is imported from Greece, but sold at the same price as the local brews. Bottles and cans come in 0.33 and 0.50 liters, and you can buy KEO and Carlsberg in 0.63 litre bottles as well. I have only seen 5 in 0.33 litre bottles, not in cans. If you do drink, don't drive. And, please do not litter. Cheers.

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    What to do and what not to do.
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    • rachel_sun
  • By rachel_sun on June 22, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by rachel_sun
    • Seacaves - Cyprus
    Seacaves
    by rachel_sun
    Cypriot people are very friendly and may ask you for drinks and food at their home.Whatever you do dont offer them money as thanks.This will offend them.You are better buying the family a small gift or a child of the family a little gift.When we got a flat tyre two Greek men came out of a shop and changed the tyre for us and my nanny offered them some money to say thanks but they did not want it.If you go for a meal in Cyprus and the host is Cypriot, the host normally pays the full bill.When you are drinking only fill a glass half full and never drink the glass empty as it is considered inpolite.You must constantly replenish it so the glass never gets empty.If a person offers you a drink it is rude to refuse.If you are given a coffee and a glass of water and some preserves.Drink the water first, then eat the preserves and then drink the coffee.Cypriot people call people by Mr or Miss etc instead of using first names.Well using first names alone is abit rude.Cypriot people keep to appoinments normally but I found they did not for my mum.She had a tv being delivered and it did not turn up and she had to call and they then said it was being delivered next day and we waited all day and she had to keep calling to see when it was coming etc.She also had her builder coming round and he did not turn up either.I found that abit anoying as I think if people cannot make it they should at least call you.This happened lots of times.
    Topless sunbathing does not go down very well.When visiting a church, dress respectfully.On the Turkish side dont point your finger directly at someone.Dont show the bottom of your shoe to anyone.Dont blow your nose loudly.Picking your teeth is also rude.When on Greek side be careful what you say about Turkish side and vise versa as not to offend anyone.

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    1974 Division of Cyprus
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    • rachel_sun
  • By rachel_sun on June 22, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by rachel_sun
    • View with banana trees in distance - Cyprus
    View with banana trees in
    distance
    by rachel_sun
    Both Turkish and Greek people on both sides of the Island say they are Cypriots.Cyprus still has it's british feel about it.Driving on left etc and people being puntual.But in the North, Turkish people have taken down Greek names and signs changed them over to Turkish.On both sides on the border, Cypriot people are friendly and very halpful.People here are keen to have peace and keep peace and are very family wise.Families stick together and are very close.Cyprus is very safe.People often dont lock their front doors or cars up etc.I felt very safe walking around and when we got a puncture people were willing to help.Crime is very low on Cyprus.The only crime that you may come across is petty crime in tourist areas.And that's probably done by tourists too.Cyprus is a very stable country and I found the people genuine and friendly and would go out of their way to help.And for nothing in return.

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    Traditional Cyprus
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    • rachel_sun
  • By rachel_sun on June 22, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by rachel_sun
    • Tomb of the Kings - Cyprus
    Tomb of the Kings
    by rachel_sun
    Cyprus has many customs.Such traditional things such as weddings and funerals, name days etc.Weddings in Cyprus are a big event.The wedding celebration often lasts for days with dancing and eating and drinking and partying.Weddings are also very big affairs.In villages the entire village is often invited.Many Greek Cypriots are superstitious.Some think Tuesday is an unlucky day because that was the day that Byzantine Empire was taken by the Ottomans.Greek Cyprios will avoid doing important things on a Tuesday.Cypriot people also believe in the evil eye.They believe an evil eye brings bad luck.People who may get the evil eye are people who envy another person or belongings etc.Cypriot people are careful not to pay too much attention and compliments to new born babies etc.Some Cypriot people wear a piece of blue glass which looks like an eye around their neck as a necklace hoping it will ward off evil spirits etc.I have one hanging in my lounge.Turkish Cypriots are very polite.Learning the language ,Greek or and Turkish is a very good way to gain the respect of Cypriot people .They see you have made an effort to learn a few words and respect you for it.

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    Racism
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    • rachel_sun
  • By rachel_sun on June 29, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by rachel_sun
    • Kato Paphos harbour - Cyprus
    Kato Paphos harbour
    by rachel_sun
    Cyprus people are very friendly and genuine and are not racist at all.Both sides of the island are very friendly to visiters.If you happen to be Greek and try to enter the north without getting a visa first you will be thrown out.If you make it across people may treat you with curiuosity and be abit weary and mostly the elderly Turkish people.If Turkish people go into South they will be treated with respect but may be a spectacle for some Greek Cypriots.Some Turkish people cross every day as they work in the South.I just think both sides try to treat other with respect and try not to start fights and want peace.Just want to get on with their lives with no hastle.

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    Missing Cypriots
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    • tagalonggal
  • Updated By tagalonggal on September 25, 2003
  • Cyprus Page by tagalonggal
    • Cypriot Women - Cyprus
    Cypriot Women
    by tagalonggal
    Cypriot women, wearing photos of missing loved ones, maintain a daily presence at the border in Nicosia. They're waiting for answers from the Turkish Government to what happened to their family members. They hope that by telling their story to visitors to their country they can bring world attention to their cause.

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    Languages
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    • rachel_sun
  • Updated By rachel_sun on June 22, 2004
  • Cyprus Page by rachel_sun
    • Cyprus Local Customs
    by rachel_sun
    I found on my visit that most Cypriots spoke English and road signs etc were in Greek as well as English.When I went shopping etc everything was in both langauges.On the North you will have to learn some Turkish to get by though.Greeks in Cyprus speak Greek, but it is not the same as you will hear in Greece.The vocabulary of Cyprus Greeks has its own set of words that are not heard of outside Cyprus.Greek nor Turkish people will expect visiters to speak their perfect language but learning a few words will help people respect you .I found Cyprus people quite loud and bold when talking and sometimes they souded angry or as if they were arguing.But it's just how they are and how they talk etc.How they express themselves.They are easy to understand as most speak English and very friendly and complimentary.I felt relaxed around Cypriot people.Not at all threatened or anything.I also did not feel pressured when going out in the eevening for meals etc as at some other holidays I have had.They were simply friendly and genuine.

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    Cypriot folk dances.
  • Tip Rating:
    • navaros
  • Updated By navaros on September 7, 2003
  • Cyprus Page by navaros
    • Cyprus Local Customs
    by navaros
    Do not miss a show of folk dances. Those are performed by men and women is very popular in social gatherings, weddings and religious festivals. It symbolizes the harmony between male and female roles in the Cypriot society.
    Colorful dresses, cheerful music and acrobatic moves make it unique.
    There are many styles and various expressions, and we had the opportunity to see some.
    Datsia: A dance performed in social gatherings and weddings. It demonstrates the agility of the dancer - a man - as well as his skill to balance glasses filled with wine centrifugally turned in a circular sieve.
    Antikristos: Men and women gracefully dance together in couples in rows across from each other to express the joy of life and love.
    Some hotels offer this shows on evenings.

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    Wishes tree in the way to Paphos
  • Tip Rating:
    • navaros
  • By navaros on September 6, 2003
  • Cyprus Page by navaros
    • Cyprus Local Customs
    by navaros
    I took this picture through the bus's window.
    You can see the hankies are tied to the tree's brunches. the local legend tells that the roots of this tree grow into a church at Paphos. Local people say that if you tie your hanky to the tree you can make a wish for an ailment to be cured, or succeed to get a good match!
    So next time you are on this road.... try it :-)

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