October 1: Independence Day in Cyprus
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Cyprus.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In ancient times, it was involved in trade with nearby kingdoms. Greek became the predominant language, and Cyprus has maintained connections with Greek culture over the centuries. Christianity started spreading on the island in the first century AD.
After the Ottoman Empire took over the island in the 1500s, many Turkish Muslims settled on the island. Great Britain established military bases there in the 1800s and took over Cyprus after World War I.
The Greek population wanted to become part of Greece, but the Turkish population did not. After a long period of instability, Britain allowed Cyprus to become independent in 1960. Cyprus first celebrated Independence Day on October 1, 1979.
Conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots continued. Eventually the northern part of the island declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Turkey is the only country that officially recognizes this as an independent country. Multiple attempts at reunification have failed.
The southern Republic of Cyprus has 1.3 million people. The large majority are ethnic Greeks and members of the Orthodox Church. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has a population of about 400,000. The majority are ethnic Turks who are Muslim. The United Kingdom still controls two military bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus.
The United Nations has helped to establish a buffer zone between the northern and southern parts of Cyprus. The border goes across the island and through the capital city of Nicosia, as seen in this photo. Photo by rawf8 / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
The tatsia is a sieve used to sift flour. It is also the name for a traditional dance in which the dancer places one or more glasses in a tatsia and swings it around without dropping the glasses. This video shows an example from 2016.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
