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Limassol Carnival
This is the greatest and one of the most popular events, that is held between February and March of every year, depending on when Easter falls on the Greek Orthodox calendar.
The ‘Apokreo’ festival starts two weeks before the 50 day Greek Orthodox Lenten period. The first week is called ‘Kreatini’ (Meat Week) as it is the last week people are allowed to eat meat before Easter. The second week is known as the ‘Tyrini’ (Cheese Week), when dairy products are allowed to be eaten. The festivities begin on the Thursday of the Meat Week, and the day is known as ‘Tsiknopefti’.
It starts with the entrance parade of the King Carnival being followed by local people combined in fancy-dress . The Cheese Week is the highlight of the carnival, this is when the ‘Grand Carnival Parade’ takes place and this is on the last Sunday of the Carnival Festivities, before Green Monday - the first day of lent.
A great number of people from all over the island including tourists, gather to watch the floats with the serenade and other masqueraded groups which last up to ten days. Many hotels in the city organise fancy-dress balls and parties during this period.
