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Epiphany
Cyprus

Epiphany 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Cyprus

Epiphany is celebrated with a holiday on 6 January in Cyprus to commemorate the baptism of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. This holiday falls 12 days after Christmas Day.

YearDateDayHoliday
20246 JanSatEpiphany
20256 JanMonEpiphany
20266 JanTueEpiphany
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Cyprus shares its Epiphany traditions with Greece and with other Eastern Orthodox countries to a large degree. Outside of these areas, however, these traditions are largely unknown.

Instead of focusing on the arrival of the three Magi on Epiphany, as is done in many other countries, people in Cyprus focus on the baptism of Jesus. Epiphany means “appearance” or “presentation” and the holiday commemorates Jesus’ presenting himself to be baptised and to begin his public ministry.

The priest or bishop will usually escort a small crowd of worshipers from church to a nearby lake or river. Then he will throw a wooden cross into the water. The daring will jump in after it, hoping to gain year-long good luck by coming out of the water holding the cross.

Also, there are special Epiphany sweets people eat called loukoumades, and kids ask their grandparents for small gifts of money on this day after singing them a traditional Epiphany song.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20236 JanFriEpiphany
20226 JanThuEpiphany
20216 JanWedEpiphany
20206 JanMonEpiphany
20196 JanSunEpiphany
20186 JanSatEpiphany
20176 JanFriEpiphany