Maria Eracleous
The Christmas Villages are set to begin in less than two weeks, on Saturday, November 26, and preparations by the participating communities are ongoing. Following last year's pilot program and public response, which resulted in a significant increase in attendance in the participating mountain areas, there is increased participation this year. Greater community investment - not only in terms of decoration and expenditure but also in terms of volunteers and participation in the artistic program - will enhance visitors' festive mood.
The communities are currently preparing for the transportation and setup of the wooden pavilions, as well as the decoration and details of the event, which begins at the end of November and will last until the 15th of January 2023. During the event's fifty days, visitors will be able to enjoy culinary options such as hot soups, local delicacies, and wine, as well as be entertained with festive art events and activities.
This year, seven locations, some for the first time, will be transformed into Christmas Villages.
One example is Fikardou, a village just outside Nicosia. According to Christos Tyrimos, deputy community leader, the decorations will not be limited to one area, but arrangements have been made for the community's homes to also be decorated with Christmas lights. The community has invested more than 100,000 euros in these events, with the Ministry of Tourism providing 70% of the funding.
Photos from Fikardou
Kalopanayiotis will be dressed as a Christmas village for the second year in a row. Following the success of last year's event, the community council and the entire community support this event and are actively involved in its setup and operation. Andreas Makris, the person in charge and coordinator of the project, explained that an upgraded program of events with choirs, musical ensembles, dance and theater groups, which was not possible last year due to the restrictive measures, is expected this year. The Christmas Village will be set up in the St. John Lampadistis area, up to the thermal waters, and from the river bridge to the village to Casale Panayiotis.
Photos of the preparations in Kalopanayiotis
The other communities also shared photos of their preparations for the Christmas Village as well as the event schedule on social media.
Photos of the Christmas Village in Kyperounta
Photos from the preparations in Deryneia, which is participating for the first time this year
Photos from Agros, which will be transformed into a Christmas Village for the 2nd year
Similar events and decorations will be held in Kalavasos and Polis Chrysochous, which have posted their event schedules on their respective community council websites.
It should be noted that the Christmas Villages are subsidized with 500,000 euros through a Ministry of Tourism project, with a maximum grant of 70% of the costs for each participant. The project's goal is for the Christmas Villages to grow and enrich each year, thereby strengthening the economy of the mountains and the countryside of Cyprus while promoting Cyprus's tourism product.
