The annual flower celebration began in Ancient Greece as a festival to welcome the arrival
of spring and to honour Dionysus, the god of fertility and the vine. The celebrations were hel mainly in Athens and lasted
for three days.
According to Greek mythology, Ploutonas (or Hades), god of the underworld abducted Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. She
was gathering flowers and, overwhelmed by her beauty, he took her away to his kingdom. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture
and fertility was so distraught at the loss of her only daughter that she neglected the land , and famine devastated the earth.
The human race now faced the threat of total destruction, so Zeus, the brother of Ploutonas, intervened and persuaded him to allow
Persephone back. When Demeter saw her daughter return, she was overjoyed and gave life back to the earth which sprouted flowers,
plants and blossom. This was springtime.
This story is celebrated in Cyprus each May in accordance with the ancient tradition fomr welcoming spring, which of course, is a time
for the renewal of life and nature everywhere.
In Limassol the annual Flower Celebration is organised by the Yermasoyia Municipality with the support of local municipalities, the
Cyprus Tourism Organisation and others. It lasts two days and has exhibitions, a flower market, and shows, all in the centre of the
seafront tourist area of Yermasoyia. The main highlight of the event is the parade, with ancient chariots decorated with flowers,
and people in a variety of costumes.
