Traditional Professions

A series of traditional trades and professions have survived in Kato Platres, such as brick and tile maker, “tornaris”, quilt maker and cobbler. The most popular profession was the one of the turner (“tornaris”), and that is why the village was also known as Tornarides. Let us meet these traditional professions better.

The main profession of the inhabitants was, as aforementioned, the process and decoration of wood, and sometimes of pots with the turning lathe. This manual machine was the basic tool of wood carvers as well as ceramists. It consisted of “two thick girders”, which were rectangular and were placed parallel to the floor.

The turning of the wood and the clay required artistry and attention. For instance, a piece of wood had to be formed with a hack hammer in order for a part of it to be decorated. It was then place on the turner. The craftsman sat on a stool holding the bow with one hand and the chisel with the other hand. They had chisels of different kinds-“round, flat, middle, narrow”. They used to turn the periphery of the piece of wood with the cord of the bow and simultaneously decorated the part of the piece with the chisel.

The most common decorative patterns on wood were roses, branches, flowers and many geometrical figures. The decoration was also customized according to orders.

Unfortunately, this craft is almost extinct. However, furniture decorating the traditional houses of Kato Platres are reminiscent of this wonderful trade.

Many inhabitants used to work in open brick and tile factories. They used to sift local earth and threw away all stones. They took the clean earth and placed it in special moulds. Then they placed it in firing kilns, namely in small ovens made of mud and bricks. The craft of handmade brick production survived in Kato Platres until the end of the 20th century.

The quilt maker is another traditional profession that survived in Kato Platres and was completely deserted recently. The quilt maker used to make “cotton quilts, mattresses, divans, couches and armchairs”.

The quilt maker used to go around villages and advertised his merchandise. He always carried his bow with him, a wooden instrument in the shape of an arrow, which was adjusted by a certain lever. He used to process cotton and turned it into small cotton balls with his hand before using the bow, namely before hitting the cotton with it. He then placed the cotton in a thick fabric bag, hit it with a thin stick and sewed its ends so as to make the quilt.   

While the quilt maker softly hit the surface of the quilt, he had to observe the way in which the cotton was spread. He only sewed it as soon as it was evenly spread. Thee quilt was stitched across its whole surface often in a decorative manner.

Cobblers were also quite popular in the village until the end of the 20th century. He used to create shoes, mostly boots for farmers from animal leather.

Their basic tool was a draw file (“ladakono”) used for sharpening, “farsetta” a long steel razor for cutting leather, “dontagra”, a kind of bender and a drawing knife for cutting the thick thread called “rafidi”. They painted the shoes with “xydia”, a black paint made of vinegar (“xydi”), pieces of iron and leather. The cobbler used to wander in neighbouring villages and repair shoes locally.

Traditional Treats

Many of the traditional treats are still produced in Kato Platres. Some of them are dried raisins, “epsima”, “palouzes”, “soutzoukos” and “kiofterka”. All these are grapes products.

Raisins are dried grapes. The inhabitants of the village dry them so as to keep them. Raisins are used in many traditional treats, for instance in Easter “flanounes”.

“Epsima” is concentrated grape juice that looks like honey. It is mostly made of black grapes. The grapes are blended and juice produced, is also known as “moustos” or “moustari”. “Moustos” is then boiled in a big pot, named “hartzi”. The foam produced by heat is removed with a big spoon. “Moustos” is boiled twice and white dirt is added to it so as to absorb all dirt. This is how “epsima” is produced, namely a black ropey liquid with sweet and sour taste.

“Palouzes” is another traditional treat whose main ingredient is “moustos”. The initial process is the same as for “epsima”. However, flour is added in the pot. The mixture is stirred until it is coagulated. Rosewater, cinnamon and mastic are also added. “Palouzes” is ready when, according to the women of the village, “it does not stick on the plate”. Its is usually served with ground almonds or walnuts.

“Soutzoukos” is one of the traditional treats that take a lot of time to prepare. Initially, almonds are placed in water and then on long threads, usually a meter long, using a needle. There threads are dipped in a big pot, the “hartzi” containing “palouze”, several times. Soutzoukos is thick and this depends on how many times the thread with the nuts is dipped into the pot. It is then placed on branches so as to dry in the sun. When they are dry, then “soutzoukos” is ready. It must be noted that “soutzoukos” remains fresh for a long time.

Finally, “kiofterka” is a treat also made of “palouze”. It is in actual fact dried “palouze”, cut in small square pieces.

Sources:
Iona Ioannis, Traditional Cyprus Professions, Nicosia 2001
Nicos Ioannou, Secretary of Kato Platres Community Council
Hadjithomas Andreas (ed.), Cyprus, vol.6
Great Cypriot Encyclopedia, vol.5 and vol.12