Cyprus National Day celebrated this week

No sooner has one public holiday passed than another is on the way - Saturday is a public holiday in Cyprus to commemorate Cyprus National Day.

Parades, church services and public remembrance events are set to take place across most of Cyprus’ major towns and villages.

Cyprus National Day, also known as EOKA Day or Greek Cypriot National Day, marks the date in 1955 when the EOKA rebellion for the island to secure independence from colonial Britain officially got underway.

Cyprus had been under British administration since 1878 after the island was handed over in an agreement with the Ottoman Empire in exchange for British military support.

EOKA stands for Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών), and was a Greek Cypriot nationalist guerrilla organisation that fought a campaign for the end of British rule in Cyprus, for the island’s self-determination and for eventual union with Greece.

April 1st marks Cyprus National Day and the official start of the rebellion sixty-eight years ago, Cyprus Independence Day however is celebrated on October 1st.

Some businesses will be closed.

Author: NewsinCyprus.com
Added: 27-03-2023