NICOSIA (Reuters Life!) Cyprus conservationists are on the warpath over the felling of protected trees used in bonfires to celebrate the sentencing of Judas Iscariot to eternal damnation as part of Easter celebrations.
Hundreds of trees face the chop for the pyre in an age-old tradition symbolising the burning of Judas, the wayward disciple Christians believe betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas is represented by a stuffed dummy on the top of the pile, known in the Cypriot dialect as a "lambrajia".
Bonfires used to be held in church courtyards. But the tradition has evolved into one big all-night rave in some cases replete with barbeques and beer and, if in a residential area, an army of angry neighbours.
"It mostly involves young people, who compete with each other on who will have the bigger bonfire," said Ioanna Panayiotou, spokeswoman for the Cyprus Greens Party.
The party recently got word of eucalyptus trees being felled, and of trees disappearing in a park, she said.
Greek Cypriots, who in their majority are members of the Orthodox Church, celebrate Easter, which is the most important day in their religious calendar, on April 27.
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