Death and Superstition in Cyprus
Today I’d like to focus on a somewhat morbid subject; that is, death; or rather the traditions, beliefs and customs associated with death in Cyprus – especially pre-1950s.
Growing up in Melbourne, my very religious Greek Cypriot mother would often share her own superstitions with regards to death. My sisters and I were always warned not to cross our feet in bed and to never carry a shovel or broom over our shoulders as we might innocently bring about someone’s death. I remember on quite a few occasions if my mother saw a black crow outside our window or heard a dog howling, she would lament that someone close to us was about to die.
After some research, I was able to discover that my Cypriot ancestors were highly superstitious and had practiced some rather strange behaviours when dealing with the death of a loved one. I’m unsure if any of my findings are based on true and actual practices, so I am particularly interested to read what you know about this subject.
In the book ‘Romantic Cyprus’ (3rd Edition, published in 1946) author Kovork Keshishian, writes that as soon as a person was thought to be dying, they were shifted from their deathbed and placed on a cloth on the floor. Apparently, this is done so that the dying person could die a humble death. The priest is then invited to perform the last rites. Once the person has died, their eyes are shut and their mouth is bound, so that no evil spirit may enter. The corpse is then washed with warm water and dressed in a white cloth with a hole large enough for the head to pass through. The cloth serves as a shroud and a symbol of purification. The hands and feet of the deceased are crossed and tied with twine to commemorate and symbolise the death of Jesus Christ. Finally, the body is covered with a white sheet. I wonder if these practices are still performed in Cyprus.
With regards to superstitions and the dead, I discovered some rather interesting past practices and beliefs. Here are a few that have caught my attention.
Apparently, many years ago when someone died in the village, it was customary to cover every photograph or mirror in the house of the deceased with black cloth and they were turned to face the wall. They were left this way for forty days. I’m not sure why they did this but I can only speculate it may have something to do with warding off evil spirits? Then there is the superstition that required someone to stand guard over the corpse in case a cat leapt onto the dead person during the night and therefore, place a curse upon the body.
I have also read that it was once customary to place the deceased in a room with all the doors and windows left wide open, and two candles burning on either side of the corpse. A plate full of wheat with two reeds forming a cross on top of the wheat was placed near the body and incense was burned. I have come to understand that the wheat symbolises the ‘cycle of life’ and that the doors and windows are kept open to allow the souls of family members who have already passed to come to retrieve the soul of the person who has just died, and take them into the next life. I suppose the open door also explains how a cat might wander into the room at night.
I have discovered that it was once common practice in Cyprus to bury the dead in the morning. As soon as the corpse was taken to be buried, every water vessel in the house is emptied on the ground, so that the soul of the deceased may be refreshed. Apparently, every housewife in the village was required to do this.
Traditionally with an Orthodox Christian funeral, a priest would lead a procession of mourners from the house of the deceased – to the church, chanting and burning incense along the way. The procession would include all the relatives and friends of the deceased (and sometimes the entire village), with many mourners lamenting as loudly as they can. It was a common belief that if the priest looked back while the corpse was being taken to the church, someone in the procession would soon die. I’ve read of another superstition that states if the priest attends a wedding straight after a funeral, then either the bride or the bridegroom would die within the year. Pretty bleak stuff if you ask me.
I am fascinated to learn more about the traditional customs of a Cypriot burial. When I was a young boy, I attended a funeral in Arsos, Limassol in the Spring of 1974. I can clearly remember there was a lot of wailing, weeping and lamentation going on, especially from a small group of black-clad women. When we reached the graveside, these women began to beat their chests furiously with their fists and at one point, a few attempted to jump into the open grave. Thankfully, those standing nearby managed to hold them back. I am not sure if these women were ‘professional mourners’ or relatives of the deceased. I remember one woman in particular, perhaps the wife of the deceased, who rocked back and forth at the gravesite, pouring out her sorrow in a continuous, toneless song which I later discovered is known as a ‘dirge’. To tell you the truth, I was left a little shaken by the whole scene. Once the deceased person was lowered into the grave, oil and wheat was poured over the body and the mourners took turns to throw a handful (or shovelful) of soil into the grave. After the burial, I was invited back to the family home of the deceased where bread, Halloumi cheese and olives were served. I remember the adults drinking red wine.
I read somewhere recently, that it was once commonplace in Cyprus for mourners to wash their hands with water at the gravesite during a burial and then break all the vessels that contained the water and scatter the pieces on top of the grave. Afterwards, the mourners would stop at the first stream they encountered on their way home to sprinkle water on their faces and onto the ground. The article did not explain why they had to do all this.
For forty days after the dead person has been buried, a candle is kept burning at their grave. It is believed that this light serves to light the way of the departed soul and to protect it from evil spirits. Forty days is considered to be the length of time the deceased person’s soul is still on earth. Eight days after the burial a plate of boiled wheat, called ‘Koliva’, and five loaves of bread are taken to the church, where a special service is performed for the benefit of the soul of the departed. At the end of the ceremony the boiled wheat is shared by those present at the service, who bless the departed soul, and the loaves are kept by the priest as a reward for his services. The relations of the deceased find comfort in believing that the soul of their loved one has been comforted by the blessing of the priest.
Funeral in Kyrenia, Cyprus. 1908
According to writer Lois Cemal, Turkish Cypriots are also quite superstitious about death. For instance, some believe that if you die on a Friday you will go straight to heaven. Also, babies and pregnant women must avoid seeing a funeral. I’m not sure why?
I am also curious to know whether it was once common practice for Orthodox Christians in Cyprus to bury their loved ones in cloth shrouds or open pine boxes (i.e. tabut) in the same way that Muslim Cypriots bury their dead? I wonder if communal graves were commonplace in Cyprus or were there any rituals that required the bones of the deceased to be excavated from a grave after a certain amount of time?
When travel writer Paul Wilstach arrived in Cyprus in 1925, he noted the differences between Muslim and Christian funerals. “With the Moslem funeral,” he notes. “I saw a straggling mob of men, shuffling along in the dust behind an unpainted burial box on the shoulders of six bearers. The box was unclosed, except for a cloth draped over it. There is a fez on a stick nailed to one end of the box. The body is removed from the box and buried unprotected from the earth, literally dust to dust. The funeral of an Orthodox Christian, no matter how poor, is surrounded with cheap pomp (ceremony and display). Several vested priests begin the service at the home of the deceased, then lead a procession of mourners to the church and finally, end the service at the open grave. The mourners include only the men among the family and friends, for the women do not leave the house.”
I am surprised to read Wilstach’s account of the Christian funeral, especially how he noted that women did not attend the funeral. I wonder when the rules changed and why? Wilstach also notes that in an Orthodox burial, there is a lid on the coffin but it is not secured until the gravesite is reached. Wilstach explains that the custom of keeping the lid unsecured came from Ottoman times when Turkish officials were required to check to identify the Christian body before burial. Apparently, it was somewhat commonplace for Greeks to bury an empty coffin to cover the escape of a loved one from the island to avoid Turkish conscription that required him to fight against people of his own faith, or, more often, to escape the penalties of his crimes.
So, there you have it. My all-too-brief article about death and burial in Cyprus based on ancient traditions, customs and beliefs. I’d love to learn more. Please share your own observations or understanding about this subject.
Costas Emmanuelle
conemmanuelle@talesofcyprus.com
SOURCES:
Cemal Lois. 2016. Funerals in Cyprus.
Haji-Costa, Ismene & Percival D. A. 1944. Some Traditional Customs of the People of Cyprus.
Keshishian, Kevork. 1946. Romantic Cyprus.
Witstach, Paul. 1926. Islands of the Mediterranean.
Some comments on Social Media – posted April 2025
Interesting. Some rituals based on religion and others on superstition.
Thank you for your enlightening information on burials in Cyprus
This is fascinating, Costas Emmanuelle. I just attended the burial of my uncle and not much of this is observed anymore. I’m particularly saddened by the wakes And mnemosinos now where people have them catered. Thankfully, my mum and I still observe the old custom of relatives bringing a plate of olive and haloumi breads and cakes which is something I will continue.
Thanks Savvas. A lot has changed and not always for the better. Wait until you read my post tomorrow about the traditional Cypriot Easter. Today’s version is very different to the way it used to be.
Jennifer Marie Smith Robertson
I have read about covering the photos and mirrors and turning them around for forty days, but I can’t think of what book that was from. If it comes to me, I’ll update here!
Please do Jennifer
My mother is buried with her parents and a sister and brother who died aged 21 and 32 respectively. Apparently, someone can be buried in same grave after 2 years. Bones of previous person are removed washed and reburied.
Christine Salih my mother and brother passed 1,5 years between. There was a debate where to bury my brother. What they did is place a white sheet in the grave, took my brother out of the coffin and buried him in a white shroud.
Interesting and fascinating article. As a District Nursing sister in the UK, I’ve cared for many people at the end of their lives and supported families and loved ones from different cultures with different beliefs. Our apartment in Cyprus is in a village, close to the village church. We often see funerals in the church and hear the bells. They are rung in a very specific, solemn way for a funeral. Interesting to understand the rituals, customs and beliefs that surround the practice in Cyprus.
I remember the village church bells Deborah when my Auntie died in 2016. They rang out at 5am to let everyone know she had passed on…
Very interesting read.
When my mother passed away 6 years ago the priest came to my home to say prayers and light incense. After my mum was buried wheat and oil were poured into the grave. At the graveside we provided the mourners with olives, bread, halloumi and red wine. Forty days after her passing I made koliva and bread to take to church and then 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after her passing.
The washing of hands at the gravesite is probably connected to the custom of mourners throwing a handful of dirt into the grave (nowadays only the immediate family does this, but maybe everyone was expected to once). But the breaking of the vessels I wasn’t aware of and haven’t seen practiced nowadays.
And yes burying in an open coffin is still done today
Thank you for all this information, I left Cyprus when I was young I don’t remember much what went on when people died.
This was a beautiful read and yes, my mother was very superstitious , her mother passed on hers to her and yes animals are very significant to us in Cyprus and my mother would talk about an hour sending a message and also birds can be a past one visiting you when the souls are free at a certain time there are many stories that I will be writing in memoir of my mother‘s wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post.
Thank you Maria for sharing your thoughts on the subject. Bravo sou for writing your mother’s memoir. I would be interested in reading it one day if you decide to publish.
Quite a few are gone they do memorial services forty days with koliva three months memorial, six months,nine months and a year in Cyprus they do move the bones to a family common grave in St George in Larnaca where my parents are buried and quite a few from VATILI when you visit the cemetery they have two priests available for prayers at the grave . They is a grave care taker named Kokos Raouna and his daughter from Genagra that place the stone markers I will see him next month on my visit to Cyprus The article has quite a few traditions that are not done now even with the Turkish Cypriots Thanks for the article .
Thank you John for your comment and insight.
Thanks Constantinos, fascinating!
Regarding Witstach’s account 2 things might be going on:
(1) That period is full of visitors writing things about Cypriots as a kind of monolith and through romanticising and ignorant eyes.
(2) There can be dominant practices at any one given time, but these aren’t necessarily singular so you can have many types of funerary ritual and between generations things change much faster than the national identity stories we are currently brought up with.
In sum, the anthropological concepts that might help with your questions here are ethnocentrism, reflexivity, non-bounded view of culture, historicity.
Avi Khalil Thank you for sharing your insight into these rituals and practices. If only I had a time machine to go back 100 years, 200 years, providing I could return home safely how great would it be to get a first hand eyewitness account.
Costas Emmanuelle My mother-in-law is 93, that’s pretty close! She remembers everything. She recently told me that if you see an owl, it means someone will die.
Lisa Prosser Aktug actually I have heard about the owl too.
Fascinating reading as always. I actually heard and witnessed many of these funeral and death related beliefs in the 4 years I spent in Cyprus in the seventies. Always enjoy reading your work.
Andrea Johns yes, I think I remember something in your book about the funeral you witnessed. Thanks again for sharing.
Interesting ! My mother passed peacefully at home with me with her. Then we had two cats. My mother loved them both and vice versa. When Mum died, one cat was visibly upset and came nowhere near her bedroom and disappeared from the house (came back a few days later after the funeral). The other cat jumped up onto the bed and just sat on my mother’s body and stayed there for a long time. I automatically closed the curtains in the bedroom and shut the door whilst waiting for a doctor and others to come. My brother was flying home from the US so I didn’t want the undertakers coming until my brother and two cousins had arrived. As regards women not attending funeral services this also happened in Anglican churches. I have seen newspaper cuttings showing funeral marches to church with no women attending. Children were never allowed either. At the graveside following the service yes ir is customary for mourners to throw soil to be thrown onto the coffin (earth to earth) but also a flower to. On the day of my mothers’ funeral I automatically drew all the curtains in the house closed until after the funeral. And I wore black for months after my father died. As regards the 40 days does this not refer to the number of days after Christ rose from the dead until he ascended into heaven. What I personally cannot come to terms with seems to be the new trend of telling those attending a funeral what to wear ie bright colours not black.
Sue Christou . I have been involved with many funerals of very different creeds and traditions. As being raised in the Anglican community, I have never heard of women not being allowed to attend. Children were not banned either, but young children were not advised to attend though …as it is an awful situation to see the mourners who might be distressed and tearful. In fact, women are now allowed to even become Bishops in the Church of England. I have attended a Yugoslavian graveside service where the main mourner provided a basket of bread and an alcoholic drink for all attendees. A Chinese funeral for a young lady, meant that no-one older than her could attend, all wore similar white attire and a fabric band around their heads. In preparation, her hair had to be combed 100 times, the comb then broken in two and thrown over the dresser’s left shoulder … to be left untouched on the floor until the funeral had taken place. A Rabbi would make arrangements for a Hebrew funeral, not the next-of-kin. The Taharah took place (done only by those of the same gender as the deceased. The coffin only had rope handles and no name plate (the name just handwritten on the lid). A service would take place in the synagogue but the coffin would stay in the hearse with blacked-out windows. Sikhs would gather to wash and cover the deceased with plain yoghurt and jasmine oil. Jamaican families would throw coins towards the coffin. So many differences … but all went to a grave or a crematorium !!
Monica Hoyle So different. I think it was the Church in Wales where I saw photos of a funeral procession years ago now, before our time. I was 11 when my lovely grandfather died. I didn’t even know he was ill. I used to see him daily after school without fail so a huge shock for me. I wasn’t allowed to attend the funeral. But watched the hearse going to the cemetery. When I tackled my mother I honestly don’t think she had realised that I wanted to go to the service then the cemetery. I still after all these years miss him even though I used to get told off ! but he taught me how to cheat at cards and do magic tricks. Interesting reading what you have just said. Am still not sure about cremations though.
Sue Christou My Grandad spent Saturdays helping me with my educational studies and art. When I asked him what to draw for him, he would say “Draw an aeroplane out of sight” . He also taught me to tie different knots (including a noose knot). Nanna told him off for that !. I was 16 when I went to his cremation service. Sadly my Nanna followed him six weeks later. I had sat with them both to their end.
Monica Hoyle Sounds like my grandad. He used to wait for me to call round after school to bandage his legs. It was always me who did this for him. Think it was varicose veins. He too was a headmaster.
Wow Monica what a varied amount of experience for you. It is very interesting to read how other cultures treat their deceased. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Sue for sharing your thoughts and own experience. Fascinating behaviour with your cats. Always interesting to read your views.
Once a person is buried in the Turkish Cypriot community, a bottle of blessed water is poured on their grave for the next 3 days very early in the morning
Zaff Azmi … And usually just a stone pillar erected on the grave ? …. No flower insert on a tablet stone … Just a single pebble left by each mourner visiting