Immigrate to Cyprus Focus on Cyprus Immigration Guide: On this small and prosperous island, the local customs are remarkably simple and honest. Cypriots are sociable, sincere, and generous in their treatment of others, without being overly concerned with formalities. If they show you kindness, they will treat you like an old friend immediately; there is no need to be overly modest, as doing so may cause offense. They are particularly warm toward visitors; it is not uncommon for a stranger in a tavern to pay for your drink, smile, and wave goodbye. If a Cypriot invites you to a meal, it is best not to refuse without a special reason. There is a local saying: "It is impolite to leave before the coffee has cooled."
Cypriots eat black bread, olives, and yogurt daily, sometimes supplemented with cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The main seasonings are olive oil and herbs, and meat is consumed only on Sundays, holidays, and at banquets. A banquet for guests has a special name: "Meze," which consists of twenty to thirty dishes. Wine and coffee are common beverages for Cypriots.
In large cities, there are many modern residences, but in the vast rural areas, people still live in traditional homes. Rural architecture has changed little since the late Neolithic period. Houses are generally built of adobe, stone, and common timber, with flat roofs used for drying agricultural products and sleeping. A house typically has three rooms: one for dining and sleeping, one for storage, and another for keeping livestock. In the center of the house is a courtyard, where a well, a beehive-shaped earthen stove, and an outdoor toilet are located under a grape trellis. The courtyard is surrounded by lemon trees, and the family's fields are nearby, making the farmhouses appear exceptionally quiet and beautiful.
Cypriot marriage has long-standing traditions. When courting, a young man must sing a "hundred-line love song" to the young woman; the lyrics are long, and the young man must be proficient in the lyrics and sing them beautifully to touch her heart. The wedding day must be chosen on the first Sunday after a full moon. A unique feature of the wedding is the mattress-stuffing ceremony, where 7-9 young married women sit on a straw mat and sew a quilt with red thread to the accompaniment of a band. Once finished, the master of ceremonies brings in a handsome young boy and wraps him in the new quilt, turning him in all directions to wish the newlyweds an early birth of a child. When the quilt is placed on the bed, an open pair of scissors is placed underneath to ward off evil and slander. The wedding ceremony is held in a church, and the couple rides on horseback, accompanied by relatives and friends, from their respective villages to the church. People scatter cotton seeds, beans, and small copper coins over them, wishing them happiness and fulfillment. The priest prays for them, the couple exchanges rings, and they receive blessings. On the third day of the wedding, people dance and celebrate together, bringing the wedding to a climax. Newlyweds generally live in the house provided by the bride's dowry and do not live with their parents. For Cypriots, a daughter's marriage is a very important matter, and it is customary to provide one or more new homes. If the parents cannot afford the dowry, the daughter may never marry.
The most important and popular arts in Cyprus are music and dance, with many songs retaining ancient Greek forms. At wedding dances, men dance with vigor and strength, while women's movements are gentle and delicate. Turkish-Cypriot dances are also common, with the "Karsilamas" dance being well-known. Both its steps and movements reflect the style of Turkish dance. However, there is also a strong Greek influence in narrative song and dance.
Cyprus has many holidays, both national and those specific to the Greek and Turkish communities. New Year's Day is a holiday shared by all. The Epiphany on January 6th is a holiday for the Greek community. On this day, farmers place bowls of water and plates filled with seeds on the table, ask a priest to chant, and then wrap the seeds to be planted during the sowing season, believing this will lead to a bountiful harvest. The Fire-Jumping Festival on June 23rd is also a Greek-Cypriot holiday; at night, people light bonfires in their courtyards and dance barefoot, singing as they jump over the flames: "Fleas begone, bedbugs perish, Saint John will kill and drive away the pests." It is said that Saint John is the messenger of fire and light, and it is believed that the Fire-Jumping Festival can ward off evil and disasters, ensuring peace throughout the year. The Turkish-Cypriot community follows Islam, so they observe holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha according to the Hijri calendar. In addition, there are local festivals, such as the Orange Festival in Famagusta, the Carnival and Wine Festival in Limassol, and the Flower Festival in Paphos.
Due to the strict restrictions of their respective religious doctrines, the Greek and Turkish communities have maintained their own ethnic characteristics and do not intermarry or assimilate. The Greek community speaks Greek and follows the norms of the Greek Orthodox Church; the Turkish community speaks Turkish and maintains Muslim customs. Despite this, the two communities have lived intermingled for centuries, coexisting harmoniously, with Christian churches and Islamic mosques standing side by side, never having experienced serious religious conflict. Until the 1950s, they even fought side by side against colonialism. However, since the late 1950s, under the instigation and manipulation of imperialist colonial policies, the two communities have clashed and turned against each other for their own ethnic interests, leading to the current de facto division between the north and south and the Cyprus problem in international politics.