CHRISTMAS decorations invariably range from the classy to the outrageously tacky, and this year’s offerings from our municipalities fit the pattern perfectly. For every elegantly lit sphere adorning Nicosia’s Makarios Avenue, there’s a kid-friendly, if garish, Santa’s grotto in Ayia Napa.
In Nicosia, the traditional public face of Christmas is Eleftheria Square. At present an archaeological dig, the square has been left virtually bereft of festive cheer as the Municipality has tried to shift the focus to the old city with the main tree placed on Ochi roundabout. The annual funfair has been moved to the moat nearby. Other areas of the old city such as Chryssaniliotissa have also received more lights this year.
But much of the 110,000 euros Nicosia has spent has gone on new Christmas lights for Makarios Avenue and up-market Stasikratous.
The Nicosia Municipality is proud to note that it has opted to go green this year, choosing environmentally friendly LED lights that consume one fifth of the energy of normal lightbulbs. The new lights were chosen by a committee who opted for the Austrian-made designs for their quality and style. The Municipality has spent less this year than last year, and is keen to reuse the lights for up to four years, depending on how well they fare.
The lights will remain in place until January 7, the day after Epiphany, when they will be carefully taken down and stored away until the 2009 holidays.
Limassol Municipality, meanwhile, has spent approximately €200,000 on decorations. The amount includes the cost of setting up and maintaining decorations kept in storage such as the main Christmas tree put up on Grigori Afxendiou Square on Anexartisias Street. The tree, which has become the butt of many a joke, resembles a layered cake and is exactly the same one used in Limassol last year.
Decorations have also been set up all over town including the coast road, the five-way traffic lights, Makarios Avenue and Ayios Nikolaos roundabout. The municipality has tried to encourage shop owners to decorate windows and displays by announcing a competition for the best shop decoration, with cash prizes for the top three winners.
For the first time, Limassol Municipality has organised a Christmas funfair, at Heroes Square in the centre of town. The private company chosen to run the fair will pay rent to the municipality, while game prices are controlled by the local authority.
Another innovation is the creation of a Limassol Christmas lion mascot: ‘Liontaris’, chosen after the Leon of Amathunda, the town’s official emblem.
In Ayia Napa, Christmas focuses on the central square where the town council has organised a series of Christmas concerts and other activities.
Last weekend Mayor Antonis Tsokkos switched on the Christmas lights at a special event which featured performances from the Cyprus Police Philharmonic Band, the municipal choir and the musical group, Winter Wonderland.
“We have organised many shows and activities, plus we have the lights, a Santa Grotto, the tree and on New Year’s Eve we will have a spectacular fire work show,” Tsokkos told the Sunday Mail.
A full programme of almost daily events has been organised throughout the festive season featuring musical bands, Christmas carols, songs and traditional dances.
On Christmas Eve from 4pm, children being given the opportunity to take a ride on a Christmas train while adults can relax with some traditional Cyprus Christmas delicacies and a complimentary glass of wine.
On New Year’s Eve the municipality have organised a special evening of entertainment and a fireworks display to welcome in 2009. All visitors will be offered a slice of the traditional cake “Vassilopitta”, which will be cut and shared out.
Similar activities have also been organised in Paralimni and Derinya.
Paphos has invested in a variety of new Christmas decorations this year, including the impressive tree complete with star on top outside the Town Hall.
“We don’t know the total spent on the decorations and lights this year as we are still in the process of collecting invoices,” said the head of the cultural department of Paphos municipality Ermina Mais.
The municipality admits that some of the decorations and lights are old, but they have made investments this year, and for the first time Poseidonos Avenue in Kato Paphos is lit up.
“We didn’t have electricity available on previous years,” said Mais, “but now due to the works in the harbour area, there are new electricity poles and we have been able to add Christmas decorations.”
“I come to Paphos for the winter and this year the seafront looks fabulous. I walked down here last night and I felt really Christmassy. The new promenade is great and is set off beautifully at night by the twinkling lights,” said winter resident Ada Maxwell.
The new tree outside the town hall will be the central point for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, which are being put on by the municipality for the first time in five years. Along with free drinks, music and entertainment, there will also be a record-breaking attempt to make the world’s largest doner kebab. Festivities commence at 10pm and everyone is invited to attend.
