Peyia Cyprus

Whats in a name?

Lynn - 24/01/2009

There is a wonderful tradition here in Peyia when it comes to "naming people". I'm not talking the birth name, which tends to be either mother or fathers or a saints name (well, normally a saints name anyway coz mother or father will have been named after a saint!) _ I'm talking about the "friendly" or "nick-name" which is given to people.

For example, George, who sold us our land , is named something unpronouncable but which translates as "the son of the son of the son of the man who first brought the wood to Peyia to carve". Nicos, whose family are a very old and most respected part of Peyia, is Nicos "Akoursiotis". This name is gained (and worn with honour) because and I quote, "My great great grandfather", Nicos told us one night in The Jail, "He was a very large and fine man. One day, a man came from the next village to Peyia (Akoursos) and stole the prettiest virgin from the village, impregnated her (the cad), then returned her to Peyia."
"So my great, great grandfather, he rode into Akoursos on his donkey and stole TWO of the prettiest virgins in the village and impregnated them both - at the same time!......"
Well, as family names and tall stories go, that one is impressive - and it certainly gains Nicos the respect his great great grandfather deserved for his "doings"!...
Would be interesting to know how the locals name the expats whose parents have many tattoos and who brought bad drinking habits into this village..............answers on a postcard please!