Free workshops over the Christmas weekend

Christmas is here! A big fat lunch awaits on Sunday and for most people, a few days off work. Although the events agenda tends to come to a halt over the Christmas weekend with cultural performances taking a break too, there are still things to do to stay entertained. The series of free workshops the ministry of tourism is organising this festive period in the rural Christmas villages has plenty in store for December 24, 25 and 26.

Christmas Eve

Fikardou village is hosting numerous workshops on Christmas Eve. A zivania distillation event called In The Wine-Spirit Of Christmas will take place all day, from 11am to 5pm with Nikos Ioannou sharing all sorts of insights into this Cypriot pomace brandy. From 3pm to 6pm, Eva Kyprianou will lead a Christmas Crafts and Cards creative workshop where participants will learn fun ways to make their own holiday cards.

Over in Kyperounta, Christmas Films will be screened at the village square between 11am and 1pm and 5pm and 7pm while a mulled wine-making workshop takes place simultaneously. In Kalopanayiotis village, Christos Pechlivanis will lead a workshop showing participants how to make percussion instruments using recycled materials. The workshop will take place twice at the Archontariki – Monastery of Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis, first at 10.45am and then at 3pm.

Christmas Day

A pottery workshop will take place in Deryneia on Christmas morning at the Folk Art Museum between 11am and 1pm, getting hands-on with Cypriot red mud clay.

Then, Maria Menikou will host a workshop on Emotional Empowerment Through Play at Kalopanayiotis at the Lavrentino Conference Center, happening twice, at 10.45 am and 3pm.

Kalavasos too will host some free entertainment on December 25 with Notis Georgiou reciting Christmas Tales at the village’s museum and events hall at 11am and 3pm.

Boxing Day

On Monday 26, the same location will host another heart-warming event, a Letters to Santa workshop with Maria Koraka. Around the same time, at 11am and 2pm, Dietrich Krieghoff will lead an archery session at the Kalavasos Church courtyard, welcoming all curious to learn more about the skill. Over at the village Olive Mill, the Cyprus Wine: History, Varieties, Wine Tasting event will take place from 1pm to 3pm and then again from 5pm to 7pm.

Kyperounta village will host a morning and afternoon Christmas Song Composition Workshop at the village square as well as a Narration and Creation of Fairytale Books event. For a taste of something sweet, a workshop in Kalopanayiotis will show tradition soutzioukko preparation to wrap up the Christmas week with a Cypriot delight.

Free Christmas Workshops

Free workshop around Cypriot Christmas villages, organised by the Ministry of Tourism. Information and telephones on www.heartlandoflegends.com