Santa's Coming to Fun Factory!

Wow Christmas Events

Melomacarouna (Honey Cookies)

A Cypriot Christmas wouldn't be the same without Melomacarouna. These little gems taste of honey and have a beautiful aroma of cloves and cinnamon. I tried making these when I first got married....what an utter, complete disaster!!! It was so bad, I had to throw the oven dish away too!! Sadly, my husband left me since then, he said it was another woman, but I don't believe him, it was because of my melomacarouna, he just didn't want to hurt my feelings!!!! Anyway, don't be put off by my experience of 30 years ago, I was young and inexperienced….here's my friend Koulla's really simple recipe. Enjoy!!!

Ingredients
2 ½ cups oil
1 cup sugar
1 packet Self-raising flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Juice of half a lemon
Juice and zest of 11/2 oranges
3 tbsp brandy

Syrup
1 1/2 cup of sugar
1 1/2 cup water
3/4 cup honey
A few cloves
Finely chopped nuts, almonds or walnuts

Method
Beat oil with sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, b/p. and soda. Add juices and brandy and lastly the flour and kneed well. Roll into small oval shapes and lightly roll over grater to make small indentations on top of the cookies.Put onto grease-proof paper and cook in oven 185 for about 1/2 an hour until golden brown.
To prepare the syrup put water, sugar and cloves in a pot and bring to the boil. Once boiled add the honey and simmer. Once the biscuits are completely cooled, dip them into the syrup for a few seconds (not too long because they can get too soggy) and then place on greaseproof paper.
Finally sprinkle with nut mixture.

Androulla 
xx

Larnaca Municipality Christmas Events Schedule-December 2013

Sunday 1st

Ermou Square
City Christmas Lights Ceremony-Music Program and Santa Claus
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Kimonos Square
Charity Event
Cyprus anti anaemic association(Larnaca District & Anti-Anaemic Association
24th Christmas Bazaar-Entertainment Program- Activities for kids and Santa Claus 

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday 3rd

Municipal Theatre
Christmas Music Program by American Academy Students-Traditional Carols
7:30 pm-Free Entrance

Saturday 7th

Kimonos Square
Charity Christmas Bazaar (charity for the needy students of Larnaca District)
Handicraft Items, Christmas Sweets and decorations
Organizer:Larnaca Red Cross

9:30 am - 8:30 pm

Sunday 8th

Kimonos Square
Charity Event-Carols of Solidarity
Christmas Bazaar with handicrafts items, books, toys and sweets
11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Entertainment Program and Santa Claus
Organizer: Edon Larnaca District Council
4:00pm- 5:00pm

Wednesday 11th

Municipal Theatre
Theatre “Once upon a time.... Christmas
St. Spyridonas School Larnaca ( School for children with special needs)
6:30 pm-Free Entrance

Friday 13th
Kimonos Square
Charity Event-Christmas Bazaar for needy students
Organizer: Parents Association of Pancyprian Lyceum
4:00 am. - 8:00 pm

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th
Dimitriou Square
Charity Event-Christmas Market
Handicaft Items, Homemade desserts and Christmas Decorations
Organizer: Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends
9:30 am - 6:30 pm

Ermou Square
10:30 a.m. - 24:30 DJ Frankis
24:30 - 24:45 School of Dance Alice Perdiou
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Private Choir LEARNING CENTER & CHILD
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Voice Center of Larnaca Municipality
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Dacapo School of Music
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm School of Dance Vasilitzia
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm School of Dance Cyprus

Sunday 15th
Ermou Square
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Choir-Ministry of Education and Culture
11:30 a.m. - 24:30 Cyprus Police Philarmonic
24:30 - 1:00 pm Cultural Group Ormideias
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Cultural Group Angliseidon

Palace Square
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Paul
10:30 pm - 1:30 pm Christmas Music, Dance, Games, face paintings, Santa Claus with elves

Parade
Shopping center
Santa Claus and his entourage will visit Larnaca’s center. There you can listen to Children's Choir’s songs of Larnaca Municipality
5:00 p.m.

Ermou Square
Christmas Party
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday 18th
Beach
Charity Event-Christmas Music program and Bazaar
Technical School of Saint Lazarus Larnaca
5:00 p.m. - 9:00p.m

Thursday 19th
Municipal Theatre
Music-Symphony Orchestra-Christmas Concert
Works by M.-R. DE LALANDE, J. S. BACH,
F. LISZT, F. SCHUBERT CA
Soloist: Elena Coop (SOPRANO)
Conductor: Alkis Baltas
Entry: €12 & €7 (18 -26 years old and pensioners, free for students under 18)
8:30 pm

Friday 20th
Beach Bench
Charity Event- Bazaar and Entertainment show
Organizer: Europa Donna Cyprus
4:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday 21st
Lordou Vironos
Music-Traditional Music by Michael Terlikas
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm DJ Mike
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm High School Choir and Orchestra Livadion

Ermou Square
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm Christmas Show for Kids, Santa Claus
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Athanasia Dance School
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Cultural Group of EAC Larnaca/Ammochostos/Dekelia

Theodoulou Square
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Mike
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Musical groups

Zinonos Kiteus (centre)
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Frankis
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Music, dance, face-painting, balloons and games for kids

Church of Saint Lazarus
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm Christmas Program

Armenian Church
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Andreas
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Christmas Program
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Music band of Makarios III Lyceum

Ermou Square
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 pm Serenaders Zeno
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm Angelic voices choir Silvas Makamian
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Alma Dance studio
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Good Music school
2:00 PM - 3:00 pm Choir Conservatory Musica Mundana & Cultural Genesis Choir
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Livadia Cultural Group
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Sylvia Ballet School
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Larnaca Municipality Choir
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Student Choir
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Choir Progressive Drive Larnaca

Palace Square
11:00 am - 1:30 pm Charity Event-Ministry of Health, Mental Health Services for children and young people (Larnaca-Ammochostos), Entertainment program, various activities and Santa
2:00 pm-Anit-cancer Cyprus Association-Give Light in a Lifetime
Christmas Bazaar, Music and Dance Programs & Games For Kids

Municipal Theatre
Youth Foundation Orchestra-Christmas Charity Concert
Free entrance (Charity: baby food, baby items for needy families)
7:30 pm

Sunday 22nd
Kimonos Square
10:00 am - 8:00 pm Charity Event-Christmas Bazaar (homemade desserts, books, christmas decorations)

Palace Square
Charity Event- Christmas Bazaar(homemade products)
11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Lordos Vironos
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Paul
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm DJ Paul
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Balloons & Face-painting

Ermou Avenue
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm Christmas Creations - Games for kids
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Drama, Street Theatre

Theodoulou Square
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Mike
5: 00 pm - 7:00 pm The 2 Altos

Church of Saint Lazarus
11:00 a.m. - 24:00 Music Program
24:00 - 24:30 Duet Flute

Zinonos Kiteus
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Petros
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Music and Dance, Games, Entertainment, Face-Painting

Palace Square
11:30 a.m. - 24:30 Larnaca Municipal Band
24:30 - 1:30 pm “Bananoulis, Pipi and their Friend Panta”
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm TAT-TNABAR / music from recyclables
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Oroklini Music School Kleopatra Chrysostomou

Ermou Square
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Mabo Dance School
11:30 a.m. - 24:30 Children’s Choir
24:30 - 1:00 pm Little Voices of the American Academy Larnaca
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Music
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Community Choir
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Music School & Theatre Andania
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Cultural Choir Group Hermes Aradipou
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Alma Dance Studio

Monday 23rd
Municipal Theatre
8:00pm Christmas Charity-Concert by Eleonora Zouganely
€20 ticket
Organizer: Saint’s Skepis Association of Friends

Ermou Square
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Kids Choir L / KAS
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Saint Lazarus Technical School
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Songs by Tina
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Music School of Marios Gabriel
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Fame Dance School& Cyprus National Team Basketball Mazoretes 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Orchestra

Palace Square
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm Face-painting, Balloon creations, Magic Tricks
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Magic Tricks by Stavros Valiant

Tuesday 24th
Shopping Center
March with lights, Christmas songs and music
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Music

Ermou Square
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm School of Dance “Dancing Art”
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Alma Dance Studio
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Dacapo School of Music
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm MCCS Fade Music Group

Palace Square
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm John - The Box of Surprise
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Music Group X-MUST

Vasili Sokratous
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm TAT-TNABAR / music from recyclables

Friday 27th
Ermou Square
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Theatrical Group Venizelos
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Cultural Group Elisso
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Angelic Voices -Silvas Makamian

Palace Square
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Songs by the Music Group of Michael Chatzimichael
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm The 2 ALTOS

Saturday 28th
Dimitriou Square
Charity bazaars with Christmas food. Part of the money collected will be donated to the Social Grocery Larnaca
11:00 am - 7:00 pm Charity Event of Parents Association of Drosia Municipality

Lord Vyronos
10:30 a.m. - 24:00 THE 2 ALTOS
24:00 - 1:00 pm Songs by Dimitri Fani
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm DJ John Andreou
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Balloon Creations, Face Painting

Ermou Square
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm Music and Songs by Michael Terlikas(Traditional)
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Clarinet Music
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm John - The box of Surprise

Theodoulou Square
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm Dj John Andreou
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Saxophone Quartet

Saint Lazarus Church
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Angelic Voices Choir Silvas Makamian

Zinonos Kitieos
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 pm Storytelling, Painting , Balloon Creations, Magic tricks, Face-Paintings
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Clarinet Music
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Songs by Tina

Palace Square
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 m.m “Bananoulis, Pippi and their friend”
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Mascotes

Ermou Square
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 pm Christmas Art Workshop by 3 Dots Artlab
11:30 a.m. - 24:00 Lefkara Choir
24:00 - 24:30 Dance Team of Lefkara Municipality
24:30 - 1:00 pm Children’s ChoirPOED L / KAS
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm “Level” Dance Studio
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Christmas Radio Program by Georgina Potamitou 99 fm
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Alice in Wonderland (English) Theatrical Representation

Sunday 29th
Music on the beach
Musical Sundays by the music team of Michael Chatzimichael
Traditional Carol
Organizer: Cyprus Tourism Organization
11:00 am

Lord Vironos
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Andreas
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm Face Painting
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Entertainment Program

Ermou Square
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. saxophone Quartet
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm THE 2 ALTOS

Theodoulou Square
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ John Andreou

Zinonos Kiteos
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 pm Christmas music, dance, facepainting, Creations with Winnie

Palace Square
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 pm Charity Event by Private Learning Center & Child (Collection of clothing)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm TAT -TNABAR / music from recyclables
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Angelic Voices Choir
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Christmas Creations , Music & dance, face-painting , Santa Claus and his friends

Armenian Church
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm DJ Mike
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Christmas Music Program

Ermou Square
11:00 a.m. - 24:30 Children Theatre-Pucon Bush elf Forest
24:30 - 1:15 pm Musical High School of Larnaca
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Dance School Perkallos Alethriko-Angliseidon
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Kofinou Dance Group
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Music Team X-MUST

Vasili Sokratous
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Municipal Choir ‘’Savior”
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Music bands OREIOS Lefteris Moskva & the Chriso Dimitri

Monday 30th
Ermou Square
3:30 p.m 3:45 pm Private School “The State of Learning”
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Angelic Voices Choir by Silvas Makamian
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm The Cyprus Opera

Palace square
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Christmas music, dance and games, facepainting, Fun with Winnie

Tuesday 31st
Ermou Square
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Music band “The East”
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Music by George Giorkas and Andreas Koupepias

Palace Square
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm DJ John Andreou

Larnaca Parents Network expanding and seeks volunteers

Supporting the parents of Larnaca – in all languages !

The Larnaca Parents Network (LPN) is expanding its services to include Greek and Russian in addition to English, with the aim of making it the one-stop-shop for Larnaca parents seeking information or support – whatever language they speak.

Founder of the non-profit organisation – Sharon Mckinley – has seen the success of the LPN grow since its inception in 2012, and has the full backing and support of the Larnaca Municipality, who will now be including the LPN events in its official monthly events diary. The LPN also coordinates with the Municipality for the donation of items for needy families and other services.

As a result, Sharon is seeking volunteers who are able to assist in any way they can: “As the LPN continues to grow, we need more help from people who are willing to donate a bit of their time – as much as they feel they can, and whenever they feel they can. It won’t be anything difficult; it could be assisting at an event where we are collecting for charity, or if anyone fancies writing for our blog, we always welcome pieces. I would also like to get our posters put up in more places so that our events can receive more publicity and need people who are willing to undertake this task too.”

Sharon moved to Cyprus six years ago with her partner of 14 years, Grant, whom she met when the two worked on a cruise ship. Sharon had always been drawn to the island, having worked here as a nanny in her early twenties, and it seemed like the ideal place to relocate and set up their company ‘Progress Cyprus’, which trains staff for cruise ships internationally.

In 2010, the couple had their son Alex and Sharon suddenly found herself propelled into a different world as a mother… one she was not familiar with. Feeling alone and not sure where to turn for support, she realised that many others must also feel this way and decided to set up a blog site where English-speaking parents could find useful information on the services available, events, child-friendly places and advice, which blossomed into the LPN of today.

She explains: “I initially started the LPN in English because that is the language I speak, but I don’t want it to be an ‘ex-pat thing’ and always planned on expanding it to include Greek and Russian. This is now becoming a reality as we welcome new members onboard who can speak these languages and are willing to assist in getting the information out there in their own languages.”

Aside from the website, the LPN also holds monthly coffee mornings and talks – all free of charge. The talks cover a range of topics from expert speakers and Sharon feels that this is something everyone should take advantage of: “Our events are fantastic! We have had such amazing speakers who have most recently talked about empowering women, managing stress, Cyprus herbs, and raw food diets. These people kindly donate their time to hold the free talks and I want everyone to take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. We have some great talks lined up for the future, including one with the mayor of Larnaca in January where he will tell us all about the works currently taking place in the town.”

But Sharon is still not content and wants to give as much as she can to the community which - as she says - has given so much to her as her adopted home. In the pipeline for 2014 is a new members card that will offer island-wide benefits and discounts for families, and she also has plans to take the network island-wide with each town having its own tailored Parents Network.

For more information, or to volunteer, visit the website: www.larnacaparentsnetwork.com or email info@larnacaparentsnetwork.com

Telephone :96585496