As the law now stands, the lighting of traditional Easter bonfires – known in Greek as ‘lambradjies’ – is expressly forbidden with no exceptions, the ministry of justice said on Thursday.

The blanket prohibition applies under legislation passed by parliament a few weeks ago. It provides for severe penalties for violators – in some cases fines of up to €100,000 and jail sentences of up to 12 years. This latter applies where a person has lit a bonfire for Easter and it ends up causing a forest fire.

But given that young people are almost certain to gather wood and light ‘lambradjies’ ahead of this coming Easter – which falls on April 20 – the government has tabled a bill proposing certain changes that would allow this custom under certain conditions.

Under the bill, local authorities – municipalities or local communities – would have the discretion (but not the obligation) to issue permits for bonfires. They could issue one such permit per main parish church in the area of their jurisdiction.

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Local authorities meantime would be responsible for checking the ‘lambradjies’ and, where any unauthorised bonfires are found, then notify the police and the fire department.

A local authority would also be responsible for removing any materials placed at a site planned for a bonfire.

Where a permit is given for a bonfire, the material used must only be raw timber – to avoid the production of noxious fumes – and both the diameter and height of the wood must not exceed three metres.

But local authorities have reacted to these proposals, saying they lack the means to police bonfires. It’s understood this has been the biggest stumbling block to acceptance of the government bill.

And it means that if the government bill does not pass before Easter, the lighting of ‘lambradjies’ will continue to be prohibited outright.

In its statement, the ministry said it was trying to find the sweet spot that would allow this longstanding Easter tradition to continue.

Nicos Tornaritis, an MP who sits on the House legal affairs committee, told the Cyprus Mail that next week the justice minister will come to parliament to discuss the issue anew.

“We do want the ‘lambradjies’ to continue, so long as there are rules in place,” he said.

Earlier in parliament, an official with the fire department had told MPs of a rising trend in fires caused by the lighting of ‘lambradjies’ during the Easter holidays.

In 2020, the fire department responded to 83 cases; 126 cases in 2021; 168 cases in 2022; 235 cases in 2023; and 313 cases in 2024.