Alona and Pelendri festivals to celebrate Cyprus’ zivania heritage

Alona, Cyprus. Festivals celebrating zivania heritage will take place in Alona and Pelendri later this month and in November, featuring traditional distillation, local food, music and dance. Alona’s event takes place on Sunday, while Pelendri’s celebrations run across November 7 and 8.

Community leaders invite visitors

Michalis Nikiforos, Alona’s community leader, and his Pelendri counterpart, Kypros Kyprianou, encouraged the public to attend. They highlighted the festivals’ contribution to safeguarding cultural heritage and supporting village economies.

“As long as we keep traditions alive, we keep our villages alive,” they said.

Alona programme and village heritage

Starting at 11am, Alona’s festival will feature demonstrations of traditional zivania production, tastings of local produce, and Cypriot music and dance performances. In its 15th year, the festival is now a fixture in the village’s cultural calendar.

Visitors can also discover Alona’s scenic streets and hazelnut forest and learn about initiatives to safeguard the village’s cultural heritage and natural environment.

Appeal for mountain communities

Nikiforos described zivania as deeply rooted in the history and identity of rural Cyprus. He emphasised that younger generations should inherit the associated customs and traditional skills.

He also urged the state to provide more support for mountain villages, especially by upgrading roads and other infrastructure.

“We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for equal opportunities for rural residents,” he said.