“ONE CITY, One Celebration” is the slogan that will be branded all over Nicosia as the capital’s Christmas 2005 and New Year 2006 festive celebrations get underway.
The Citizens Organisation of Nicosia, and the Municipality have launched the capital’s second annual festive celebrations following last year’s success.
Christmas 2004-New Year 2005 attracted over 350,000 visitors to the capital with this year’s celebrations aiming to attract even more.
At a cost of £400-450,000 to the tax payer, the major of Nicosia admitted that the cost is high but he said, “As the years pass the costs will diminish. We are building on our previous efforts and we can make use of last year’s resources.”
He said that while the outdoor exhibition of aerial photographs, Earth Form Above, is due to close on November 20, the series of structures currently lining Eleftheria Square, Ledra St and Onasagorou which mount the photographs will not be dismantled but will be used so that the Municipality can pass on their Christmas tidings to the public.
Taking place from December 1 until January 6, the Christmas celebrations herald over 30 live performances to include two musicals for kids. D’Avila Moat will be transformed into a Fairytale City with two magic carousels, a 500m² stage for theatre productions, kiosks, stalls and six Santa houses packed full of gifts and goodies. There will also be dozens of circus entertainers, acrobats and musicians entertaining the milling crowds.
He said. “This year Nicosia is preparing to recreate unique Christmas moments to bring Nicosia’s citizens and visitors even closer together. We want to make the festivities a lasting institution in a city that is constantly evolving.”
“Our aim is to being Nicosia even closer to Europe.“
At the event’s launch, Panikos Apegitos, the president of Nicosia’s Citizens Organisation expressed his happiness on seeing the city thrive year upon year.
He said that no city can live through and survive so many problems unless the people are united, and behind it.
Adding, “Nicosia is divided but in our souls it is one, it is one city, one celebration. You will see and hear this slogan everywhere because we have to pass the message that our divided city is actually one and that we hope we won’t be separated for long.”
Mayor Zambellas added, “The city has lived through turbulent times. Now this celebration heralds a calm, peaceful, and joyful event giving Nicosia a European atmosphere.“
Zambellas called for Armenians, Turkish Cypriots, and every other ethnicity in Cyprus to join in and celebrate.
The celebrations kick off with the lighting of Nicosia’s Christmas tree at 7pm on December 1.
Some of the features of this year’s festivities include seven singers form the Vienna Opera performing songs form The Sound of Music, live music concerts by Michalis Hadjiyiannis and the band So Addictive, the celebrated Russian musical, The Black Sea Fleet, and performances by The Black Theatre of Prague.
n For a detailed list of Christmas events, keep reading our What’s On section
