Filenews 22 April 2025
The Fire Service intervened in more than 415 incidents related to the custom of lampratzia in just one month.
As the spokesperson of the Fire Brigade, Andreas Kettis, said in an intervention on the morning itinerary of CyBC, "in the last month we have recorded more than 415 incidents related to the custom of lampbratzia. Among them, the collection of wood in outdoor areas, in parks, barrels and others. This is a rough record. We see that there is an increasing trend year after year. Last year we recorded around 320 incidents related to lampratzies".
Lighting a fire, Mr. Kettis underlined, is prohibited and carries penalties from 5 years in prison and/or a fine of €25,000 and up to 12 years in prison and/or a fine of €100,000.
"There is a tolerance, as we are dealing with a custom that is hundreds of years old. A custom that the majority of the world wants to maintain. We, like the Ministry, want to bring the custom back into the right context. That is, it should be done as in the good old days. When the family, after the Divine Liturgy, approached the lampratzia and enjoyed the custom together with their children."
A legislative framework, Mr. Kettis underlined, can set these conditions.
