- Cypriots when socializing are very friendly even if they meet someone for the first time. Initially they will greet you with a handshake, smiling and looking in your eyes. They will speak to you in plural as a sign of respect especially if you are older on age. But, this is only when you are introduced. When it’s time to say goodbye, women and men will shake your hand, hug and kiss you in both cheeks.
- Much respect is attributed to older people and priests. It is very common to see people kissing a priest’s hand when meeting him on the street.
- In Cyprus, Name Days are very much celebrated. Children are typically named after the Patron Saint of their region, with the eldest son often being named after his paternal grandfather, and the eldest daughter after her paternal grandmother.
- Some Cypriots believe that someone can catch the evil eye, or ‘matiasma’, from someone else’s jealous compliment or envy. To avoid the matiasma, those who believe in it will often wear a charm; a little blue marble glass with an eye painted on it.
- It is very common among men to call each other ‘koumbare’. Koumbaros is the best man in Orthodox weddings and during old times in Cyprus the best man wasn’t only one person but all groom’s friends could be koumbari. As a result nowadays, men call each other ‘koumbare’ even if they are not each other’s best man.
- Greek Cypriots speak the Greek Cypriot dialect among friends and relatives and Standard Modern Greek with Greek people and in official occasions.
- In Cyprus people have very strong bonds with their families. On Sundays it is very common to have lunch with members of the extensive family, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents e.t.c.
- Hospitality is a very serious issue for Greek Cypriots especially women. In every house you visit you will be treated with the local Cypriot coffee and homemade spoon sweets from fruits.
- During lunch and dinners with family and friends Cypriots drink wine or Zivania (local spirit drink) and they sing and dance Greek and Greek Cypriot songs.
Communication Skills for Integration of Migrants
The WelComm project aims at raising awareness of the importance of education for social inclusion of migrants from early age and promoting opportunities for equal start in education.