The Anthestiria Festival is a celebration of spring and nature's rebirth. A parade of flower floats and people carrying beautiful, fresh flowers travels down Poseidon Avenue and fills the old harbour (Kato Paphos) of Paphos.
The festivities date back to ancient Greek times, when feasts were organised in Athens every four years to honour the god of theatre and parties, Dionysus. Anthestiria were also the festivals of souls, plants and flowers, celebrating the rebirth of man and nature.

The contemporary celebrations of Anthestiria in Cyprus have a theme similar to that of the ancient feasts. The word Anthestiria derives from the Greek word anthos, meaning flower.