Filenews 16 April 2025 - by Ioanna Mantiapia
The young people in various areas of Limassol are not intimidated or defying anything in view of Easter and the custom of lambratzia. Despite the fact that the Police announce that they have developed an action plan and patrols for the lampratzias, as can be seen in a video recorded by a citizen, the young people are not only not afraid, but, without any obstacle or hesitation, they transport volumes of wood with large garbage bins to a main road of Germasogeia, undisturbed.
In a post on social media, a resident described the whole situation, posting a relevant video: "The paraphrase of the Easter custom: A daily phenomenon these days is teenagers, at noon, stealing whatever is convenient for them from the yards of unsuspecting citizens, marching on a main road in the Germasogeia River (Christakis Kranou), heading towards the church of Prophet Elias, cursing and threatening, without inhibitions...! May their parents be happy! But really! The Cyprus Police have been informed".
Asked to comment on the issue and the related video that is making the rounds on the internet, the Mayor of Amathounta, Kyriakos Xydias, told Filenews that "the lambratzia was a custom that we inherited from our ancestors, however, as it evolves today, it has nothing to do with the custom, unfortunately. It is a phenomenon that is not limited to Holy Saturday, but it is a continuous situation that lasts for a long time. These are neighbourhood confrontations, "gangs", a strange competition, which creates enormous nuisances and disasters. Unfortunately, what you are asking me is confirmation of the phenomenon."
Last weekend, young people, taking the garbage bins from houses and apartment buildings and using them as means of transport, loaded timber and caused disruption in entire neighbourhoods, says Mr. Xydias, underlining that "as a Municipality, we are in constant contact with the Police and inform about the delinquency. We are also on alert to transport the timber – and we have done so in large quantities – in order to avoid, as much as possible, major disasters. I hope that we will be able to control it. My appeal is first to the Police to enforce the law. Then, to parents and families, to talk to their children. We cannot live in this situation. Reviving a custom at the expense of entire neighbourhoods, residents, not being able to sleep, causing huge disasters and economic damage, is not acceptable"
Asked if they have seized timber in various areas of the Municipality, he noted that "on the suggestion of the Police, quite large quantities have been collected from three parishes of the Municipality. Unfortunately, however, the young people persist, annoying and provoking entire neighbourhoods, which is unacceptable.
Behind this "custom", the young people seem to be trying to show their presence in a "counter" between different districts. Mr. Xydias confirms that for this reason they are on 24-hour alert, so as not to be disturbed by the "competitors", stressing that these are phenomena that do not fit the spirit of the days.
