Untitled - ente nazionale per il turismo di cipro

incense burner) and make the sign of the
Cross through the aromatic smoke. Later,
at coastal towns, a beautiful service is held
at which the priest casts a Cross into the
sea and a crowd of young men and boys
dive in to retrieve it and hand it back
to him.
Baptisms, weddings and funerals are
attended by almost everyone in the village
and surrounding area.
The parents have no role in the baptism
ceremony and some mothers still observe
the custom of staying outside the church.
The godparents recite the Pistevo (Creed)
on the infant’s behalf, and then oil is added
to the water in the font and blessed.
The child is stripped, placed in the font and
water is poured over its head. The priest
and godparent anoint it with oil, making
the sign of the cross. The priest then takes
sacred miro (precious oil prepared in
Constantinople) and makes crosses on the
child’s forehead, cheeks, arms, legs, feet
and palms. Three tufts of hair are cut from
the baby’s head before it is dried and
dressed in new clothes supplied in triplicate
by the godfather. The godparents then hold
the child in their arms and its first
communion is administered.
Music is usually provided
by a fiddler or, when the party
really warms up, by a less
traditional but equally popular
bouzouki group. Celebrations
and dancing go on till the
early hours.
If you happen to be in a
village during a traditional
wedding or religious fair,
do stay and enjoy the event.
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