At New Acropolis we honour the traditions of all places, and here in Cyprus we opened the Carnival season once again with the grilling of Tsiknopempti (Stinky Thursday). On this day, the last before the lent period, every corner of the country fills with smoke, the smell of BBQs and the joy of sharing food together.

 

 

We continued with our Carnival party, a celebration that has survived through the centuries because it speaks to the deep human need to play, to express ourselves freely and to see the world from a different perspective. Its roots lie in the ancient Dionysian festivals, full of dance and disguise, and later it entered Christian tradition as “Apokria”, the period before Great Lent.

A celebration of joy, companionship and freedom from the dullness of everyday life, a celebration we still honour today.