Newsroom
What was meant to be a night of celebration and firelight turned tragic in Strovolos on Holy Saturday, when a 22-year-old man lost his life during preparations for the traditional Easter bonfire, known as the lambratzia.
According to police, the young man was fatally struck by a falling piece of wood as he and others were building the towering structure that’s typically set ablaze at midnight to mark the resurrection of Christ.
The incident happened in the afternoon hours of April 19. Emergency services rushed the man to Nicosia General Hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The lambratzia tradition, long a staple of Orthodox Easter celebrations in Cyprus, involves the construction of large bonfires, often by neighborhood youth. While rooted in cultural and religious symbolism, the custom has increasingly drawn criticism for its lack of oversight and the risks it poses to both participants and the public.
In recent years, what began as community-centered events have, in some areas, morphed into unregulated contests over who can build the biggest bonfire. Fires are often prepared with scrap wood, pallets, and other flammable materials, sometimes stockpiled in secret to avoid police intervention. There have also been reports of vandalism and turf wars between rival youth groups.
This year’s incident has reignited public concern over the blurred lines between tradition and recklessness.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the young man’s death, while calls are growing louder for stricter regulations, or even a rethinking of how the lambratzia is practiced.
