New Year's Day, also known as the first day of the Gregorian calendar, is not only a global celebration but a significant holiday in Cyprus. Celebrated on the 1st of January each year, it marks the conclusion of the Christmas festivities and the beginning of a fresh year. The event is marked with great enthusiasm and joy throughout the country as it is deemed a time of family gatherings, renewal, hope, and luck.
In Cyprus, New Year's Day is called 'Protochronia' and people from all walks of life participate in numerous events and activities. Throughout the week leading up to New Year's Day, various local traditions and rituals are observed, including singing Kalanda (Carols) and baking Vasilopita - a cake traditionally decorated with the year’s number and a hidden coin inside, representing good luck for the person who finds it. Fireworks, family feasts, and gift-giving are among the major highlights of this grand celebration.
Moreover, New Year’s Day shares its date with 'St. Basil’s Day' in Cyprus, and hence it carries a deeply rooted religious significance. St. Basil's Day commemorates the life of St. Basil the Great, a Greek bishop known for his kindness and generosity towards the poor. Sermons and special church services honoring St. Basil are also held on this day. Therefore, New Year in Cyprus is not just a day of merriment but also of gratitude and giving back to society.