By Zoe Christodoulidou-Bosko

Τσικνοπέμπτη, also known as “Smoky Thursday,” is a famous Greek and Cypriot celebration where people enjoy grilled meats, such as souvlakia. But there’s more to this day than just food – it marks the start of the final week for meat consumption before the 40-day Lenten fast, known as Sarakosti. Τσικνοπέμπτη is part of the carnival season, called “Apokries” in Greek, and usually falls 11 days before Green Monday.

On Thursday, February 12, all of Cyprus—including our school—was covered in smoke from the grills. Year 6 students, along with some teachers, prepared and cooked the souvlakia for the entire school to enjoy! Everyone contributed: some chopped vegetables and pittas, others assembled the meals, but the most important and challenging task was preparing the meat. Cutting and cooking the meat took hours, but the results were fantastic and absolutely delicious!  A huge round of applause to everyone who helped!

Even though it was a working day for our Year 6 class, the festive and playful atmosphere was everywhere. The High School students participated in fun activities to showcase their skills and enjoy time with friends, while the Junior School students participated in various engaging activities such as pottery. Some students even went the extra mile for the carnival season and wore bunny ears & fairy wings, and the festive spirit was felt throughout the day!

The highlight came at the end with the tug-of-war game, where every group gave it their all, even though the Year 6 class got brutally beaten by the teachers! Overall, it was a wonderfully fun day, and hopefully everyone enjoyed the celebration!