Villagers' Reunion Meetings
Villages are very important units of the Cypriot life. Eventhough someone might be living in a town (which is like a village in a large country) , they identify themselves with the village of their ancestors.
Multi-ethnic character of Cyprus showed itself in the life style of the villages too. Most villages have churches and mosques. There were mono-ethnic and mixed-villages. There are rivalries, competition, jokes and mythology associated with each village and its neighbours.
The ethnic tension that rose since early 20th Century in Cyprus hit the villages really hard. They were forced to take sides against each other. People became refugees. Finally, since 1960's practically there was a separation between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot villagers. The final separation occured after the bloody events of 1974. The older generation now lives with good and bad memories of the past without being able to meet their old friends. The younger generation however has no memory of living together with people from the 'other side'.
