The traditional Kilani “glydjista” are a type of dessert made of strands of pastry interwoven in a braid that are fried and dipped in syrup. They are then sprinkled with sesame seeds and decorated with scented geranium [Pelargonium]
Name - Origin
According to Xenophon P. Pharmakidis, glydjista were diamondshaped sweets that housewives used to make at home (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry γλυτζ̆ιστά,τα, 142). They are diamond-shaped sweets, similar to Greek diples (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 217). They are pittes with almonds and cinnamon, sometimes stuffed with almonds, cinnamon, rosewater and sugar (Protopapa 2005, vol. B, 452). These are strips of dough which, after being formed into a circle, are joined together at the top. They are then fried and sprinkled with almonds (Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Γλυτζυϊστά, 39).
Glydjiston in the Cypriot dialect means a preparation with a sweet taste (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 254-255).
In some places, these are called lalangia (Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Γλυτζυϊστά, 39).
Glydjista were made with a thin, elongated sheet of dough stuffed with crushed almonds, cinnamon and sugar. After being fried, they were dipped in syrup (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 254-255).
Glydjista that were prepared for weddings were stick-shaped pishíes which were fried and then sprinkled with almonds, sugar, cinnamon and rosemary (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 217). According to another variation, glydjista used to be prepared with a dough sheet formed into a braid and had honey and sesame seeds. The ingredients used are reminiscent of ancient Greek wedding treat called sísamous (Protopapa 2005, vol. B, 452).
Functional and symbolic role
Glydjĭsta were regularly prepared (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry γλυτζ̆ιστά,τα, 142). At the same time, they were quite customary at weddings, where they were offered to the new couple and their guests as a treat (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 217).
Glydjista were prepared at regular intervals and especially during the Carnival period, a period during which even the most deprived families had to make their own glydjista (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry γλυτζ̆ιστά,τα, 142).
They were also prepared after the birth of a baby and at weddings (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 167-169, 217). It was customary that relatives and friends would offer glydjista as a gift to a new mother when they would visit her straight after she had delivered (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 167-169).
In many villages, during an engagement celebration, glydjista or daktyla were offered as a treat to guests (Protopapa 2005, vol. A', 80). In some villages, such as in Kythrea, glydjista were also offered when the dowry was being ironed (Protopapa 2005, vol. A', 200). The sweets at weddings were pittes and glydjista (Protopapa 2005, vol. B, 250). In Kilani village, while the bride to be was taking her bath, her parents, in-laws, relatives and brothers and sisters would gather in a nearby room. After bathing, she would be dressed in clothes that were a gift to her from her mother-in-law and she would be taken to the room where her relatives were waiting. She would kiss the hand of her parents and in-laws and they would give her a gift. After this ceremony, they would sit down and a girl would treat them to glydjista, arkatena and loukoumia (Protopapa 2005, vol. A, 343-344). On Monday after the wedding, they would prepare various kinds of sweets to take to the newlyweds. They were often prepared by the maid of honour. In Kyrenia district, they were prepared in many different shapes, such as bows, baskets, trays and rhombuses. In later times, they would roll a dough sheet with a filling of almonds ground with sugar, cinnamon and rosewater and would call them glydjista or daktyla (ladies' fingers), mainly in the towns of Karavas, Lapithos, Kythrea and Kyrenia. In the villages of Kyrenia, the transportation of glydjista had a ritual character; they would be transported in paneria (tsestes) and covered with red handkerchiefs (the ones that were usually worn by men on their heads) while there was violin music and dance (Protopapa 2005, vol. B, 248, 257, 359).
Glydjista were prepared to be consumed at a wedding by the newlyweds and the guests, in order for the new couple to have a sweet life (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 217; Protopapa 2005, vol. B, 242-243).
Additional information and bibliography
Today in Cyprus, a similar preparation is daktyla (ladies fingers (Kypri - Protopapa 2003, 254-255).
It is the official sweet of Kilani village (Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Γλυτζυϊστά, 39). The art of making glydjista sweets is still preserved in its authentic traditional form, and transmitted from mother to daughter or from grand-mother to grand-daughter mainly in the community of Kilani. Glydjista sweets from Kilani are listed in the intangible cultural heritage of Cyprus (Unesco, 2017).
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1983 [2003²]), Υλικά διά την σύνταξιν ιστορικού λεξικού της κυπριακής διαλέκτου, Μέρος Β΄, Γλωσσάριον Ξενοφώντος Π. Φαρμακίδου, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, IX, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. - Protopapa K. A. (2003), Παραδοσιακά ζυμώματα της Κύπρου. Η χρήση και η σημασία τους στην εθιμική ζωή, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XVIII, Nicosia, Nicosia.
Petrou-Poeitou E. (2013), Από πού κρατάει η σκούφια τους. Λέξεις και ιστορίες από τον κόσμο της γεύσης, Epiphaniou Publications, Nicosia.
Protopapa K. (2005), Έθιμα του παραδοσιακού γάμου στην Κύπρο, Vol. A-B, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XLV, Nicosia.
Unesco (2017) Intangible Heritage of Cyprus. “Glydjista” sweets from Kilani. Web source: unesco.org.cy/ProgrammesGlydjista_sweets_from_Kilan
Stalo Lazarou, Demetra Demetriou, Demetra Zannetou, Petroula Hadjittofi, Tonia Ioakim, Argyro Xenophontos
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