Kataklysmos Flood Festival in Cyprus

Description:

Kataklysmos 'Flood' Festival is celebrated every year in Cyprus. Kataklysmos refers to the biblical flood by which God destroyed all living creatures on Earth. It may also have referred to the Greek myth of Deukalion and Pyrra.
 
In both cases, all of mankind is destroyed due to sin, apart from one faithful couple, and a new generation is created.
 
It is thought that the Kataklysmos celebration is attributed to worship Aphrodite and to the Aprhodisia festival which include cleansing baths, athletic, poetry and song competitions.
 
Kataklysmos is celebrated 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ exactly at the same time as the Anthesteria occurred in honour of the resurrected Dionyssus. 
 
The first day is called Pithoigia 'opening of the casks' or 'Dead Souls Saturday' where it is believed that on this day the souls of the dead are set free.
 
On the second day, called Choes 'feast of beakers' celebrations and competitions are held.
 
The third day of Anthesteria is called Chytroi 'feast of pots' a festival of the dead, where a special feast is prepared and devoted to the souls of the dead of the Deukalion Flood, the Hydrophoria (transportation of water).
 
Many Cypriots consider it a duty to visit the Holy Sea and bathe or wash with water as many friends and family as possible during this period.