Geography

The eastern-most island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus sits at the crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The richness of Cypriot culture and language is derived from this multi-ethnic influence.

Dances

Because men and women never danced together, Cypriot dances often have a men's and women's version. There are four common karchilamaes for men, and four for women. The dances showcased the individual's talents as a dancer in what was almost a duel between the two men that danced karchi, that is, facing each other.

Other dances include tachia - the flour sifter, drepani - the sickle, syrtos, sousta, potirka - the glasses, masheri - the knife.

Songs

Cyprus is also well know for her chattista from the word chattizo, which means to fit. These were improvised verses that were satirical, comical or situational. Often two men would challenge each other to a battle of dance and song, with each man trying to outwit the other with his clever improvised lyrics.

The lyrics must be sung to a specific melody and must always rhyme. The singer would dance between verses to give himself time to think of a reply. The audience would repeat the last phrase of each verse.

One famous singer, Pieris Pierettis, visited us for our Festival of Music and Dance, but unfortunately lost his voice and was unable to sing for us.

A Cypriot Pilgrim might have sung the following lines if he'd arrived in Boston:

E-e, stravara mas pou irtamen,
dakato stin Vostoni

- dakato stin Vostoni

E-e, tsai eshi tris mines pou 'masten,
hosmeni mes to shoni,
- hosmeni mes to shoni

O, why we came to Boston, we do not know,
For the past three months, we've been buried in snow.