“Ta Phota” Celebrated on January 6
Monday, January 6 is a public holiday for Epiphany Day. Government offices and many stores will be closed. Caritas Cyprus will also be closed. “Loukoumades”—fried dough balls in sweet syrup—will be everywhere!
Epiphany Day or Theophany is widely referred to in Cyprus as “Ta Phota” (meaning The Lights). It commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by St. John the Baptist and is often celebrated near the sea. Divers jump into the water to retrieve a cross cast by a priest, symbolizing the blessing of the waters and the manifestation of Jesus as the son of God.
You can read more about last year’s celebrations in Cyprus as captured by the Cyprus Mail here.
Photo Credits: Cyprus Mail, Wikipedia Commons
