Folklore

🪕Folklore in North Cyprus: Traditions Every Visitor Should Discover

North Cyprus is more than just beaches, castles, and mountain villages — it’s a place where folklore is woven into daily life. Folklore occupies a very important place with the locals as they've benefited from an assortment of civilisations that have all influenced the cultural heritage and folklore represents its unity and identity.For travellers, exploring these traditions is a chance to see the island through the eyes of locals, connecting with its history and culture in a more personal way.
________________________________________

⛪Explore Legendary Sites

• Apostolos Andreas Monastery, Karpaz - Known as the “Lourdes of Cyprus,” this monastery is tied to legends of miraculous healing. Visitors still collect holy water from the spring here — said to bring good luck and cure ailments.

• The Rocks of Digenis Akritas - According to local myth, the Byzantine hero Digenis Akritas hurled massive rocks to defend the island from invaders. You can find some of these “hero stones” near Kyrenia and the Troodos foothills, making for great photo stops and storytelling moments.
________________________________________

🧿Spot the Evil Eye Everywhere

As you wander markets, gift shops, and village streets, you’ll see the blue glass nazar boncuğu (evil eye amulet). Locals hang it on doorways, cars, and even olive trees to ward off bad luck. It also makes a perfect souvenir — symbolic, beautiful, and authentically Cypriot.
________________________________________

🕺Join in Folk Festivals

If your trip coincides with a village festival, don’t miss it. Events often include traditional dances like the çiftetelli, played on violins, ouds, and drums. In May, Hıdırellez celebrations welcome spring with bonfires, flower garlands, and wish-making rituals — an unforgettable cultural experience.
________________________________________

👰🏻‍♀️Weddings and Village Traditions

While you may not be invited to a wedding, you might stumble upon one in a village square. Cypriot weddings are community events full of music, dancing, and symbolic customs — like braiding the bride’s hair with red ribbons for luck. Guests are always welcomed warmly, even strangers passing through.
_______________________________________

🧙‍♂️Ghost Stories and Legends

Ask locals about the island’s supernatural tales and you’ll hear stories of spirits (cin) said to dwell in old houses and caves. Children grow up on these stories, and while they might give you a chill, they’re an important part of Cypriot identity.
________________________________________

🎁Bringing Folklore Home

The best way to take a piece of folklore with you? Look for:

• Handmade jewellery with the evil eye
• Traditional lacework (lefkara) often tied to ancient legends of beauty
• Folk music CDs or local instruments as reminders of the dances you witnessed
________________________________________

💃Dances

Many countries around the world have a traditional dance that has been passed down through the generations and Northern Cyprus is no different. One popular folk dance is the Karsilama, where men and women perform together. It's a long series of dances presented by pairs of friends dancing face to face with a smiling mimic. Dancing in perfect timing, the men and women typically present different, but complimentary, moves. The Sirto is recognised as the oldest folk dance, where dancers hold each other’s wrists forming a circle. There are twelve basic steps involved, where one dancer leads the rest of the participants, varying the tempo. In some parts of Sirto, pairs of dancers hold a handkerchief from its two sides, as can also sometimes be seen in Karsilama. Individual dancers may show talents like spinning, jumping, kneeling or hitting their feet or legs or the ground with their hands.
________________________________________

👗Costumes

The colourful costumes worn by folk dancers in Northern Cyprus reflect the origins of the dances. The women wear colourful headdresses and jewellery, and dress in eye-catching dresses, usually knee length. The men wear white shirts with black knee-length trousers, and a wide red cloth belt. Combined with their blue waistcoats and red fez hats, their dashing folk dancing costume is completed by a pocket watch or handkerchief.
________________________________________

♫Music

A live folk dance nowadays is likely to be performed to a tape but traditional folk dances are usually accompanied by musicians, playing traditional instruments such as the zurna, a reed instrument with a distinctive and evocative Middle Eastern sound. Two types of drums can also be played, the smaller darbuka played with both hands, and the larger davul which is beaten with a stick. A violin is also usually played, and other instruments can be added, such as an accordion, or mandolin. Other than the folk music which accompanies dancing, entertainment and shows, other genre of “Türkü’s” are equally important, the most famous being “Dillirga”, “Kebapçıların Şişi” (“the skewers of the kebab makers”) and “Portakal Atışalım” (“let’s throw each other oranges”).
________________________________________

🎆Events & Festivals

Dancing is a way of life in Northern Cyprus and can be seen in bridal showers, weddings, festivals and harvest time and is a way to show emotions of joy and gratitude. Turkish Cypriot folk dances are not only significant because they're enjoyed by locals, but also because they receive acclaim in other parts of the world, with folk-dance groups routinely representing Northern Cyprus at international festivals. The annual “Folk Dance International Festival” is also held in Iskele, usually around the end of June, attracting groups from around the world. Lasting a week, the festival brings together the beauty of diverse cultures. It’s quite a sight to see younger generation of Cypriot folk dancers getting to grips with the sickle dance, when the sickles they're holding are almost as tall as them. Traditional dances are a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in an ancient tradition and local culture.
________________________________________

✨ Folklore in North Cyprus isn’t just about the past — it’s living culture you can see, touch, and join in during your travels. Whether it’s sipping holy water in Karpaz, dancing at a village festival, or hanging a blue amulet in your home, you’ll carry a little of the island’s magic with you long after your trip ends.