Cyprus is a bright and colorful island country with many cultural traditions. In 2025, people in Cyprus will celebrate many public holidays. Each holiday is unique and essential.
Some holidays are for religion, like Orthodox Easter and Epiphany. Others are to show national pride, like Greek Independence Day and Cyprus Independence Day. These holidays are times for people to unite, honor their history, and enjoy their unique way of life.
Let’s learn about the different public holidays in Cyprus in 2025. We will examine what they mean, what customs are involved, and what makes these festive times happy.
Public Holidays In Cyprus In 2025
In Cyprus, people will have 14 public holidays in 2025. None of the holidays from them will fall on weekends. It means all the pubic holidays occur on weekdays. Below are the traditions and significance of the public holidays in Cyprus in 2025.
New Year’s Day (January 1st)
New Year’s Day is a public holiday celebrated on January 1st in Cyprus. It marks the start of a new year and is a day of joy, hope, and new beginnings. Many people in Cyprus celebrate by attending special church services.
They spend time with family and friends and enjoy traditional New Year’s dishes like vasilopita (a cake with a hidden coin). Fireworks displays are also standard, with people gathering to watch the colorful displays light up the night sky as they welcome the new year.
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Epiphany (January 6th)
Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day. It is a significant religious holiday in Cyprus celebrated on January 6th. It celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus, guided by the star of Bethlehem.
On this day, many Cypriots attend special church services and reenact the journey of the three kings. A popular tradition involves:
- Cutting the Vasilopita.
- It is symbolizing good luck for the year ahead.
- A cake with a hidden coin inside.
Clean Monday
Clean Monday, also known as Kathara Deftera, marks the beginning of the Great Lent period in the Orthodox Christian tradition. It is celebrated on the first Monday of Lent, which falls approximately 48 days before Orthodox Easter.
Clean Monday is a significant public holiday in Cyprus. It is celebrated with various traditions, including flying kites, picnicking, and eating traditional Lenten dishes such as Lagana (a type of flatbread) and taramosalata (a dip made from fish roe).
Greek Independence Day (March 25th)
Greek Independence Day is an important national holiday in Cyprus. It marks the start of Greece’s war for freedom against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
This day is significant for Greek Cypriots, who share culture and history with Greece. On Greek Independence Day, parades, cultural events, and flag ceremonies happen across Cyprus. Schools and groups take part in activities to honor this occasion.
Cyprus National Holiday (April 1st)
The Cyprus National Holiday, or Greek Cypriot National Day, is celebrated on April 1st. It commemorates the start of the Cyprus War of Independence against British colonial rule in 1955.
This day is significant for the Greek Cypriot community, as it marks their struggle for freedom and self-determination. Parades, cultural events, and speeches are organized to honor the sacrifices made by those who fought for Cyprus’ independence.
Orthodox Good Friday
Orthodox Good Friday is a solemn religious holiday in Cyprus celebrating the crucifixion of Jesus and death at Calvary. It is a day of mourning and reflection for the Orthodox Christian community.
Many attend church services, and processions are held throughout the day, reenacting the events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion. Families often gather for a traditional Good Friday meal, typically consisting of bread, olives, and beans.
Orthodox Easter Monday
It is a public holiday in Cyprus, celebrated the day after Easter Sunday. It is a day of joy and celebration, marking Jesus’s resurrection. Families gather for festive meals, often featuring traditional dishes like souvla (spit-roasted lamb) and flaounes (cheese-filled pastries). Children usually participate in egg-cracking games, and colorful parades and celebrations occur throughout the island.
Labour Day (May 1st)
Labour Day, or International Workers’ Day, is celebrated on May 1st in Cyprus. It is a public holiday that honors the contributions and struggles of workers worldwide.
In Cyprus, Labor Day is marked by rallies, marches, and speeches organized by trade unions and labor organizations. It is a day to celebrate the labor movement’s achievements and advocate for workers’ rights and better working conditions.
Orthodox Pentecost Monday
It is a public holiday in Cyprus, celebrated on Sunday, the day after Orthodox Pentecost. It marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus Christ, as described in the Christian scriptures. This day is celebrated in Cyprus with church services, family gatherings, and traditional dishes, such as macaroni tou Kythou (a baked pasta dish).
Assumption Day (August 15th)
Assumption Day, also known as the Dormition of the Theotokos, is a significant religious holiday in Cyprus, celebrated on August 15th. It celebrates the belief in the bodily belief of the Virgin Mary in heaven after her death.
Many Orthodox Christians in Cyprus attend church services and participate in processions and other religious ceremonies on this day. It is also a time for family gatherings and traditional foods, such as loukoumades (honey-dipped doughnuts).
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Cyprus Independence Day (October 1st)
Cyprus Independence Day is a national public holiday celebrated on October 1st. It marks the island’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960. It is a day of great significance for all Cypriots.
It symbolizes the country’s hard-won freedom and self-determination. Parades, ceremonies, and cultural events are held throughout the island to commemorate this occasion and honor those who fought for Cyprus’ independence.
Ochi Day (October 28th)
Ochi Day, which means “No Day” in Greek, is celebrated on October 28th in Cyprus. It commemorates the day in 1940 when the Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas, rejected the request from Mussolini’s Italy to allow Axis forces to enter and occupy strategic locations in Greece during World War II. This courageous act of defiance is celebrated as a symbol of Greek resistance and national pride. In Cyprus, Ochi Day is marked with parades, speeches, and cultural events.
Christmas Day (December 25th)
Christmas Day is a public holiday in Cyprus, celebrated on December 25th. It is a joyous occasion that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God and is celebrated by Christians worldwide.
In Cyprus, families gather for festive meals, often featuring traditional dishes like pourtokalia (a citrus-flavored dessert) and kourabiedes (butter cookies). Christmas carols, decorations, and gift-giving are essential to the celebration.
Boxing Day (December 26th)
Boxing Day is a public holiday in Cyprus, celebrated on December 26th. Traditionally, it was a day when wealthy individuals would give boxes or gifts to their servants or employees. In modern times, Boxing Day in Cyprus is often seen as an extension of the Christmas celebrations, with families continuing to gather and enjoy the holiday season. Some people also use this day to participate in outdoor activities or visit friends and relatives.
The table below shows the list of public holidays in Cyprus in 2025.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
| New Year’s Day | Jan 01, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Epiphany | Jan 06, 2025 | Monday |
| Clean Monday | Mar 03, 2025 | Monday |
| Greek Independence Day | Mar 25, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Cyprus National Holiday | Apr 01, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Orthodox Good Friday | Apr 18, 2025 | Friday |
| Orthodox Easter Monday | Apr 21, 2025 | Monday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2025 | Thursday |
| Orthodox Pentecost Monday | Jun 09, 2025 | Monday |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15, 2025 | Friday |
| Cyprus Independence Day | Oct 01, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Ochi Day | Oct 28, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2025 | Thursday |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26, 2025 | Friday |