Immigrating to Cyprus reveals that the people of Cyprus have very ancient traditions regarding marriage. During a proposal, the young man must sing a long song called "Hundred Sentences of Love" to the girl, and he must be skilled in the lyrics and sing beautifully to win her heart. The wedding day must be chosen on the first Sunday after the full moon. A distinctive feature of the wedding is the mattress filling ceremony, where 7-9 married young women sit on a grass mat and sew a mattress together to the accompaniment of a band. Once completed, the officiant brings a beautiful little boy, wraps him in the new mattress, and turns him around in all directions to wish the newlyweds a fruitful life. When the mattress is placed on the bed, a pair of open scissors is placed underneath to ward off evil and slander. The wedding ceremony is held in a church, where the newlyweds ride horses accompanied by friends and family from their respective villages, and people throw cotton seeds, beans, and small coins at them, wishing them happiness. The priest prays for them, the couple exchanges rings, and they receive blessings. On the third day of the wedding, people dance together in celebration, bringing the wedding to a climax. The newlyweds generally live in the house brought by the bride as part of her dowry, separate from both sets of parents. For Cypriots, a daughter's marriage is a significant event, often involving the gifting of one or more new homes. If the parents cannot afford this, the daughter may remain unmarried for life.
The most prominent and popular art forms in Cyprus are music and dance, with many songs retaining original forms from ancient Greece. At wedding dances, men perform with vigor while women move gracefully. Turkish dances are more prevalent, with the "Karsilamas" dance being well-known. Both the steps and movements reflect the style of Turkish dance. However, there is also a strong Greek influence in narrative poetry dances.
Cyprus has many holidays, both national and those celebrated by Greek and Turkish communities. For example, New Year's Day is a holiday shared by all. The Fire Jumping Festival on June 23 is also a Greek holiday, where people light bonfires in their yards and dance barefoot at night.